At the Oscars, Jon Stewart jokingly told the audience to “raise your hand if you *weren’t* in Crash”. Sandra Bullock kept her hand planted firmly at her side, and her role as a paranoid racist housewife in the film has opened the doors for other controversial roles. Goodbye America’s Sweetheart; hello Serious Actress.

According to Yahoo Movies, Bullock has agreed to star in a biopic about “Peyton Place” author Grace Metalious, whose popular novel scandalized the nation 50 years ago, and tore her life to shreds. She will co-produce with Carol Baum (Fly Away Home) and the screenplay will be penned by Naomi Foner (Bee Season).

“Peyton Place” was a 1956 novel about sex and scandal in a small New England Town, and was eventually made into a hit movie starring Lana Turner. Metalious never recovered from her abrupt notoriety, as the book was banned in several cities around the country despite its popularity. Her marriage deteriorated, the kids were harassed, and she killed herself with alcohol at the tender age of 39. Happy happy, joy joy.