Pop vixen Christina Aguilera is poised to play a scheming mistress in an American TV movie - marking her first venture into acting.

The Beautiful singer is set to join acting stalwarts Robin Givens, Farrah Fawcett and Melissa Gilbert in the small screen adaptation of Jackie Collins' raunchy novel Hollywood Wives: The New Generation.

And the pop star - who's often been criticized for her saucy image - has reportedly refused to portray a "sweet" character in the film for American network CBS, preferring instead to be cast as a villain.

A movie source says, "It's true Christina expressed an interest and we helped film a short screen test.

"She was sensational but instructed us that she did not want to play anyone sweet."