Anna Nicole opera to be staged in London

LONDON, March 11 (UPI) -- An opera inspired by the life of former U.S. model and television personality Anna Nicole Smith is to premiere at London's Royal Opera House, the BBC said.

The former stripper married an 89-year-old billionaire oil tycoon, then battled his family for years after his death over his fortune. She died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in 2007 at the age of 39.

Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and writer Richard Thomas have created an opera based on her life, the BBC said. Thomas was a co-creator of "Jerry Springer: The Opera."

The ROH is promising the Smith show will be "a major event in the U.K. arts calendar." It is to debut Feb. 17, 2011, with Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek portraying Smith, the BBC said.