Beyonce Knowles is on the shortlist among the seven actors who will play protest singer Bob Dylan.

The "Bootlicious" singer is one of the several black female stars being considered to play Dylan's "inner darkness" in a biopic on his life.

Director Todd Haynes had announced he was searching for a woman to do justice to the white Jewish singer, portraying different eras in his 43-year career.

Seven actors will star in the film that begins with the 1960s when his song "The times they are changing" became an anti-war anthem.

Other female stars in line include tennis champion Venus Williams and TV presenter Oprah Winfrey.

Oscar-nominated director Haynes said he wanted to hire various actors to take on the role, as Dylan was "too complex" to be played by a conventional actor.