Rachel Weisz is set to star in the 'Dr. James Barry' biopic.

Rachel Weisz

Rachel Weisz

The 46-year-old actress has snapped up the titular role in the big screen movie of 19th century surgeon - who famously pretended to be a man in order to follow her dreams of practicing medicine - according to Deadline.com.

But the brunette beauty won't just have the mammoth task of learning her lines and depicting the medical practitioner, as she's also agreed to produce the forthcoming film alongside Maven's Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler.

The script has been penned by Nick Yarborough, who has based his adaptation on Rachel Holmes' non-fiction account 'Scanty Particulars: The Scandalous Life and Astonishing Secret of James Barry, Queen Victoria's Most Eminent Military Doctor', which was published in 2003.

It's not yet known who will join Rachel - who is married to Daniel Craig - in the forthcoming blockbuster as details on the cast are being kept tightly under wraps for now.

The big screen adaptation will follow Dr. Barry's life, from when she was born as Margaret Bulkley to her struggle trying to practice medicine and right up to her death in 1865.

Barry - who became an army surgeon and worked in Cape Town - was known for fighting for the lower classes and pushing for medical reforms and better sanitary conditions.

Her true gender was not disclosed until her death.

A release date for the biopic has not yet been released.