Oscar winner Sam Mendes is to make a pop video for his former girlfriend Jane Horrocks.

The Oxford-educated director of American Beauty will work with the star of Little Voice to launch her music career.

He was her choice to make the video of her duet with Robbie Williams. Mendes and Horrocks were together three years before their careers took off.

Horrocks, who is the voice of Babs in the film Chicken Run, plans to release an album with EMI later this year.