IRELAND'S Olympic swimming heroine Michelle Smith has turned down a multi million pound Hollywood movie contract over fears of intrusions into her private life, a news agency reported yesterday. Agence France Presse said Australian actress Nicole Kidman had been approached to star in a "biopic" about the Atlanta triple gold medallist's rise to sporting glory.
The deal would have put the 26 year old, who stunned the swimming world by winning three golds and a bronze in Atlanta, among the world's wealthiest athletes AFP stated. Smith's Olympic success sparked a campaign of innuendo which was also fuelled by her marriage to the Dutch discus thrower Erik de Bruin, who tested positive for steroids at the 1993 world athletics championships. The proposed movie contract, which also included a book and training video and which was said to be worth $5 million, was set up in Atlanta. Hollywood agent Ronnie Leif flew to Atlanta after seeing her wins on TV, saying he realised her story had "blockbuster potential".
At first Smith, her husband and her Dublin based manager Kathy Stapleton appeared agreeable but later turned down the offer. Ms Stapleton was said to have been unhappy with the package and wanted to consider other proposals from film studios. A spokesman for her office confirmed that a meeting with Mr Leif had taken place but added. We would have had to agree to Hollywood probing into Michelle and Erik's private life."