Scottish singer Susan Boyle, dubbed “the hairy angel” by the UK press, wowed the world with a phenomenal rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” during an audition that aired over two weeks ago on the reality show “Britain’s Got Talent.” 47 year-old unemployed Boyle, who joked that she’s “never been kissed,” looks like an average older woman that blends in with the crowd and isn’t particularly concerned about her appearance. Prior to her recent makeover, she had bushy eyebrows and fuzzy hair that she says she was teased about as a child. She’s pleasantly plump and makes no apologies for it, saying she’s happy with her appearance although she’s open to change.

Boyle’s clip has become the most viewed video on the Internet of all time, and there’s a lot of interest in her but it’s hard to tell if it will last. She’s been interviewed by press around the world and many are captivated by her story. Given her quick rise to fame no one is quite sure if she’s just a flash in the pan or if she’ll have a successful career. She’s only auditioned for “Britain’s Got Talent” and still has to go on to compete, where she could lose. There are even cute 12 and 10 year-old contestants on that show who can sign their hearts out and pose a real threat to Boyle. It might not matter if she goes on to victory, though, given her mass appeal she’s likely to get a record deal anyway. The real question is whether Susan’s story compelling enough to be spun into a book and movie deal.

According to the NY Post, Susan is pitching a book that’s only been met with a lukewarm reception.

SUSAN Boyle… plans to dish the dirt on her life as a 47-year-old spinster-turned-singing-sensation — but is anybody buying? The gray-haired church lady, who became a global sensation after appearing on “Britain’s Got Talent,” is reportedly shopping a tell-all through her agent, Richard Pine of Inkwell Management. But some publishing executives are nervous about shelling out millions. “She has a story,” one told Crain’s, “but it’s a short story.” Pine didn’t return our call.

[From The NY Post]

I would read a book about this lady if it’s well written enough. It sounds like she’s had a hard life and her rags to late-riches story is compelling and true. She was the last of nine children in a working class family and suffered from learning disabilities due to being cut off from oxygen at birth. Boyle cared for her mother for years and was said to be so distraught when she died at the age of 91 three years ago that she “wouldn’t come out [of her house] for three or four days or answer the door or phone,” according to a neighbor.

According to the Daily Mail, Catherine Zeta Jones has expressed an interest in buying the rights to Susan’s story and playing her on film. Judge Simon Cowell told Craig Ferguson on his show last week that he was considering getting the movie rights as well.

I can’t help but root for Boyle and I hope something big works out for her. Just watching her performance is incredibly inspiring and I think that a film about her life could be even more moving. It’s uplifting to hear about an older person who moves on to fame through sheer talent. Boyle’s rise wasn’t completely out of the blue, though. Time Magazine reports that Boyle and opera singer Paul Potts before her were found by scouts for the show. So much for Cowell’s claim that he had no clue she could sing.

Susan Boyle is shown answering the door in her robe and headed out, probably to an interview on 4/27/09. Credit: Fame Pictures