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Denise Richards will star in "A Beautiful Life," a drama to be directed by Argentine filmmaker Alejandro Chomski in Los Angeles this summer. Chomski recently helmed "Reggaeton" for Sony BMG and Jennifer Lopez's shingle Nuyorican.

Richards, who plays opposite Pamela Anderson in the upcoming "Blonde and Blonder," will play an exotic dancer. Role is a first for Richards who moves from broader mainstream pics to an edgy indie film. She joins male lead Jesse Garcia ("Quinceanera"), Dana Delany, Debi Mazar and Michael Madsen in the cast.

Pic is written by Wendy Hammond and its producer Deborah Calla, based on an original play by Hammond.

Budgeted at less than $5 million, this is the sixth film produced by sales distrib New Films Intl. NFI prexy Nesim Hason and indie producer Bob Holof serve as executive producers. NFI, which launched a feature film and sales division in 2004, will sell domestic and international rights to pic.

Chomski's directorial debut "Hoy y manana" (Today and Tomorrow) bowed in Cannes in 2003.