Naked Angelina turns to the dark side for new film role

Her back is turned to camera, her face shrouded in murky shadow and hair menacingly styled to resemble a spitting snake. But there's still no mistaking the sexy superstar posing in this racy shot from her new film.

Angelina Jolie has been transformed into the mother of Grendel the monster, the father of all evil from Anglo-Saxon mythology, for the adult fantasy film Beowulf

The actress stars alongside British actors Ray Winston, who plays her evil son, and Sir Anthony Hopkins who plays King Hrothgar.

Angelina strikes a sultry pose in a promotion shot for her new blockbuster.

Winstone has also been given a virtual Hollywood makeover, losing his beer belly, to remake his portly British frame into that of a comic book superhero with the help of skilled digital imaging. Described as "'Lord of the Rings' meets '300', the long-awaited adaption of the the oldest story in the English language, "Beowulf" is described by the Los Angeles times as a "hyper violent and highly sexualized tale".

The warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) must slay the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover). Later, Grendel's mother (Jolie) seduces Beowulf so that she can produce a replacement heir that will allow her to re-establish her dominion over the kingdom.

Winstone has become a fixture in Hollywood since his breakthrough role in Gary Oldman's Nil By Mouth. And is currently filming the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series with Harrison Ford.

Die-hard fans of the comic book genre will get a sneak peak at the 3-D digital version of the film at a comic convention, Comic-Con, in San Diego tonight.

Action man: Ray Winstone with his digitally enhanced body as warrior Beowulf