Madonna has been praised for her "strong, independent" attitude.

Actress Abbie Cornish is delighted to be working with the 51-year-old pop legend on forthcoming historical movie 'W.E.' - which the '4 Minutes' singer is writing and directing - and is very impressed by the star's focus.

She said: "Madonna is a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to define her - and that's admirable."

Abbie was particularly impressed by the historical knowledge that Madonna - whose recent forays into the movie business have been disastrous - displayed when writing the film, which examines the relationship between former
British monarch King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

The 27-year-old star added to the Daily Mail newspaper: "She's studied every aspect of what happened with Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII.

"It's a fascinating insight into class and romance. Madonna's created a contemporary woman - who I will play - called Wally, who is fascinated by what happened to Mrs. Simpson."

Earlier this week, Vera Farmiga - who will play Wallis Simpson in the film - admitted she was delighted to be asked to appear in the movie.

She said: "Madonna approached me. We sat for a cup of tea and again for a cup of tea. Hopefully, it will all come together. I'm actually not familiar with her work, and I told her this flat-out. She sent a couple of films and I still haven't seen them.

"But no matter. I don't really go by that. I go by other things. I go by scripts. I go with what I think I can do with a character and if I feel a kinetic energy with someone and I feel we can uplift and challenge each other."