Furtado takes role in hockey musical

Canadian director Michael McGowan says he has written a role for Nelly Furtado into his film, Score: A Hockey Musical, which puts a music track to Canada's national game.

Furtado, the singer from Victoria, B.C., who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, has agreed to a supporting role in the film. She'll play a zealous hockey fan.

The film, to begin shooting in Toronto this week, also stars Olivia Newton-John.

"Nelly is an incredible entertainer and, after speaking with her, I realized that she fully relished embracing her inner hockey fanatic," McGowan said in a press release on Thursday.

The Toronto filmmaker, who directed One Week and Saint Ralph, wrote both script and song lyrics for Score: A Hockey Musical.

One Week, which took in $1.3 million at the box office, counts as a Canadian film success.

Newton-John, the British and Australian actress who starred in Grease, and Canadian singer-songwriter Marc Jordan play the parents of a young hockey star, who are doubtful about the course his life is taking.

Canadian singer Hawksley Workman and singer and hockey nut Dave Bidini also have roles.

Furtado, a multiple Juno winner known internationally for hits such as Promiscuous, made her acting debut in 2007 on CSI: NY.

Score is to be shot at Toronto locations such as Nathan Phillips Square, Wychwood Park, the Art Gallery of Ontario and Weston Arena.

The film will be released by Mongrel Media in Canada on Oct. 22.