It’s safe to say that Beyoncé has got this whole “music” thing down. The singer has sold hundreds of millions of records, mastered the art of the world tour, and has even certified herself as the best artist of the millennium (an actual accolade from Billboard, there). Now, it’s the film world that’s got her attention: with the serial overachiever getting set to write and star in her very own movie.

According to new reports in The Sun, Beyoncé is now working on her first biopic, which will be based on the life of Saartjie Baartman – aka, the Hottentot Venus. Exploited by a London “freak show” back in the late 1700's, the South African icon was enslaved against her will due to the size of her behind – eventually becoming world famous because of it. She has since become a symbol of the abuse and debasement shown to black women’s bodies throughout history. 

It’ll be the first big role for the singer, who has already appeared in the not-so-strenuous Austin Powers’ Goldmember and Dreamgirls. And, although she managed to secure a Golden Globe nomination for the latter, it’s now an Oscar that she’s allegedly gunning for. 

“Beyonce is desperate to be taken seriously as an actress,” an undisclosed source apparently told the paper. “Even though she’s had a string of well-received movies, she still feels her breakthrough role is yet to come. She now wants to write a screenplay that gains her respect – and hopefully awards – from the film industry, and thinks Saartjie’s story could be her ticket.”

“Winning an Academy Award would mean everything to her, and she’s a woman who is used to getting exactly what she wants.”