Alexandra Maria Lara to star in Rush

Alexandra Maria Lara has landed the female lead in Rush.

The German actress is best known for her roles in Downfall and The Reader.

The 32-year-old star has now joined Chris Hemsworth in the Ron Howard-directed Formula One movie, according to Variety.

The film centres on driver James Hunt, who is played by Hemsworth, and his rivalry with fellow driver Niki Lauda during the 1970s.

Daniel Bruhl will play Austrian racer Lauda, who nearly died in a fiery crash in 1976 but returned to the track just six weeks later to race British star Hunt.

The script has been written by Peter Morgan, with Cross Creek Pictures financing the picture.

Brian Grazer is producing alongside Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner and Cross Creek's Brian Oliver.

Alexandra most recently played Sam Riley's love interest in the Ian Curtis biopic Control.