Once upon a time, Lindsay Lohan was simply known as an actress. Then came well documented drink and drug problems, and a high profile lesbian affair with the DJ Samantha Ronson.

Now, for the first time since 2007's I Know Who Killed Me, Lohan has been cast as a movie lead in the indie fantasy comedy The Other Side.

Lohan will star as a grad student who discovers a tragic secret hidden by a remote island's eccentric residents. Co-stars include Woody Harrelson and Alanis Morissette.

Lohan dropped out of The Edge of Love in April 2007 just before filming was due to begin, later explaining that she "was going through a really bad time then."

The actress's last starring role, as a stripper in the thriller-mystery I Know Who Killed Me - earned just over $9.5m at the global box office. Lohan won worst actress at that year's Golden Raspberry Awards.

At the time Entertainment Weekly quoted the head of a major film studio as saying, "Her career was over long before she had these troubles. Right now, she'd have to pay a studio to get herself into a movie."

The Other Side director David Michaels told Variety: "Lindsay's very aware of people's perceptions of her. She's really committed to doing what she has to in order to change that."

Producer Kent Harper said Lohan will be insured when shooting starts.

Last year, Lohan appeared in four episodes of Ugly Betty.

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