Tim McGraw Takes a Walk in the ‘Valley’

Tim McGraw is in the throes of becoming a bona-fide thespian. The country superstar will play a police chief in 'In the Valley of Elah,' a mystery thriller starring Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. How's that for cred? The movie, directed by Paul Haggis (Traffic), focuses on a military officer whose son went missing on his way home from Baghdad. Filming begins later this month in New Mexico.

Meanwhile, McGraw is busy on the set right now wrangling another thriller, 'The Kingdom,' co-starring Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. "I play a husband whose wife is killed in a suicide bomber attack," McGraw explains. "I only had a couple scenes because I was working so hard, I had to fit it in. But it was pretty intense... I like heavier [roles]. I can't see me doing a romantic comedy."

We're sure there's a few ladies who'd disagree.