Having shown her sinister side in previous films like Vanilla Sky and Bad Teacher, Cameron Diaz is set to turn bad again for her most mainstream villainess role yet.

Deadline has confirmed that the Golden Globe-nominated actress (The Mask, Charlie’s Angels trilogy) will star as cruel orphanage owner Miss Hannigan in the upcoming big-screen remake of the family musical Annie.

Diaz’s casting comes after Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock (Speed, The Blind Side) was unable to commit to the role thus allowing the blond-haired beauty to take advantage.

The film is being co-produced by Hollywood star Will Smith (Independence Day, Men in Black trilogy) and rapper Jay-Z with Oscar-nominated youngster youngster Quvenzhane Wallis playing the role of heroic orphan Annie.

The remake of the 1980 family favourite will be directed by Will Gluck (Easy A) with a release date scheduled for Christmas Day 2014.