British funnyman Russell Brand is planning to cut off his luscious locks, he has revealed.

The comedian - engaged to I Kissed a Girl singer Katy Perry - is giving himself a new look to fit in with a new film role.

“Normally I play people where the only thing you need to change is my name. But for this I'm going to change my hair a bit," he says.

"I saw a mocked-up picture of how it would look and it didn't look good - like Natalie Portman with a beard.

"If I'm going to pursue a career in films I can't always play Rasputin.

"I can play him once maybe, play Che Guevara, various homeless people and then it's going to have to be a haircut." Russell is to play Dudley Moore's part in a remake of classic 1981 comedy Arthur.