Alex Kingston to star opposite Kenneth Branagh in Macbeth

Actress Alex Kingston is preparing to tread the boards alongside Kenneth Branagh in a new adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth.

The ER star will tackle the role of Lady Macbeth opposite Branagh as the Scottish king in the production, which will be set inside a deconsecrated church, as part of this year's (13) Manchester International Festival (MIF) in England in July (13).

The play will be directed by Emmy and Tony Award winner Rob Ashford and marks Branagh's first Shakespearean role since he starred as Richard III in Sheffield, England in 2002.

Kingston is no stranger to Shakespeare either - she has previously appeared in stage versions of Much Ado About Nothing and King Lear, but admits she is already nervous about taking up the challenge.

She tells Britain's Daily Mail, "I'm excited - and a bit terrified, as well - about being given the challenge and being pushed. It's going to be a work out, that's for sure. Emotional things are already starting to percolate."

The sold-out production follows James McAvoy's turn in Macbeth at London's Trafalgar Studios which runs until the end of the month (Apr13).