Hurley heads for video hell

her face and figure are made for the big screen.

Her acting ability, unfortunately, is not.

As Elizabeth Hurley's fifth film is sent straight to video, it seems this is one movie star you'll never actually see at the movies.

Yesterday, as many of her peers basked in critical adulation at Cannes, Miss Hurley faced the announcement that her latest picture, Method, will be going straight to video.

The admission means distributors do not want to spend any money publicising the £10million movie.

Video relegation is usually regarded as a blip in an actor's career. But Miss Hurley, 38, has had five such blips in four years.

In Method, she stars as an actress who starts taking on the characteristics of the murderess she is playing. She also co-produced the film,

which will do plans of switching to a career behind the camera little good either.

' This is doubly embarrassing because not only was Elizabeth the main star, she was also the producer,' said a film source after the announcement in Cannes.

'The fact that this has come on top of flop after flop means it is increasingly unlikely that Elizabeth Hurley will be chosen to take a lead role again.'

It is ten years since Miss Hurley came to prominence in a safetypinned Versace dress at the premiere of her then-boyfriend Hugh Grant's comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral.

She has not had a hit movie since 1999 when she appeared alongside Mike Myers in the Austin Powers comedy sequel The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Her last movie before Method was

By Nicole Lampert

Showbusiness Editor

Serving Sara, which cost £20million and starred Friends actor Matthew Perry.

It was released in the U.S. in 2002 but, after taking only £3million at the box office there, went straight to video in Britain.

Before that was the £10million Bad Boy with American comedian Denis Leary. This was released on video only.