Nicole Kidman signs on Gwyneth Paltrow

Oscar-winning actresses Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow will play each other’s spouses in the upcoming movie about a transsexual, The Danish Girl.

Paltrow, 37, has signed on for the role as Kidman’s California-born wife, Greta Wegener, in the provocative real-life story of an artist, Einar Wegener, to be played by Kidman.

According to imdb.com, Charlize Theron was the first choice for Greta, but she dropped out.

Kidman’s company Blossom Films with Per Saari will make the movie, which Kidman will also produce.

Kidman’s character is a married man, a painter, to begin with. But his wife asks him to don a dress and heels to stand in for an absent female model, which starts a journey of transsexual exploration that includes a sex change. Wegener’s wife stands by him for years.

Transsexuals are gaining more prominence, with celebrity daughter of Sonny Bono, Chastity, recently becoming Chaz, a man.