Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne is set to put her music career on hold after landing her first lead role in a movie.

The singer has toyed with acting in the past, taking on minor roles in last year's The Flock and 2006 film Fast Food Nation. She also provided the voice for a character in 2006 animated movie Over The Hedge.

But now Lavigne is stepping up her career as a serious thespian with her first starring role - and she insists it will be totally different to her previous work.

She tells British publication The London Paper, "I've got a film role coming up - something you wouldn't expect from me, something deep and dark."