LOS ANGELES - Pop star Britney Spears will give her first public performance since giving birth last fall when she appears in an upcoming episode of the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace." Rather than singing or playing herself, Spears, 24, will take a stab at comedy acting, portraying a Christian conservative talk show host in a guest appearance on the gay-themed series, NBC said. She will share most of her scenes with the flamboyant "Will & Grace" character Jack, played by Emmy winner Sean Hayes.
The episode, marking Spears' first gig as an entertainer since giving birth to a son in September, will be taped Feb. 15 and air on April 13. Her last real experience as an actress came in the 2002 teen road film "Crossroads." Spears has kept a relatively low profile since marrying dancer Kevin Federline in September 2004, saying then she was taking some time off to "just chill." In April 2005 came the news she was pregnant with her first child. A reality show chronicling her courtship with Federline, "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic," aired last year on UPN, but that was made up of home video footage shot before their marriage. In another sign of Spears' return from self-imposed maternity leave, she and Federline showed up at a Hollywood after-party following the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Reuters
