Usher hopes to win an Oscar for his role as Sugar Ray Leonard. The R&B singer is keen for a prestigious Academy Award thanks to his performance in upcoming biopic 'Hands of Stone', despite "coming out of left-field" with no prior acting experience.

The 'Scream' hitmaker said: "I've seen Oscar winners come out of left field... I'm just saying Jennifer Hudson [singer who won an Oscar]... I'm going into it offering my interpretation and my hard work and my dedication to be the best Sugar Ray ever.

"Or as good as the man can be. I've spoken to him, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to live up to him. But I'll try to be better than him." The film is a biopic of Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran, who will be played by Mexican heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal and will also star Robert De Niro.

Usher, 33, claims to not to feel intimidated by his talented co-stars, however. He declared: "Not at all, not at all. There's a respect for both parties... I'm not intimidated in any way. Because there's a shared passion and respect among all of us, and it's the type of script that will allow all of us to shine." The singer - who is currently caught up in a custody battle with ex-wife Tameka Foster over their two sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely - wowed the crowds at his sold-out O2 arena London gig on Monday night (11.06.12).

(Bang Showbiz)