Soul diva ARETHA FRANKLIN is desperate to secure HALLE BERRY, JENNIFER HUDSON or AMERICAN IDOL star FANTASIA to play her in a movie of her life.

The Respect singer insists the three women are in the running for the lead role in a forthcoming Franklin biopic, but she can't decide who would best fit the part.

She says, "I'm still thinking of several people (to star as the singer), and that would be Halle Berry, possibly Fantasia, she'll be through on Broadway in January, and it could be Jennifer Hudson - you never know. There's no final on that yet.

"I'm still observing them and their projects. Dreamgirls I've watched a couple of times lately, and I'm still just trying to arrive at the right decision."