Julia Stiles is set to play the lead role in the famous poet Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar, a story that is widely regarded as her own life story thinly disguised as a fictional story.

This could mark a huge role for Stiles, as her character looks set to suffer the extremes of emotion. Esther Greenwood is a young reporter who falls into a deep depression while trying to create a career in New York. As she gets worse she heads to her home in Boston and struggles with life. She experiences electroshock therapy as well as several attempts at suicide.

So it certainly does sound like a very strong and emotional role for Julia Stiles. Interestingly she's also producing and has been trying to bring this film forward for ages, according to Variety. The film is also a remake as the novel was filmed back in 1979 starring Julie Harris in the role, however that film was called a box office failure by many.

It certainly does mark a strong role for her. She's had a few in her career but it seems that the ones she's most noted for are the bigger Hollywood films such as the Bourne ones. Will the Plath tale mark a change in that direction?