Lindsay Lohan's probation nears end

Actress Lindsay Lohan is nearing the end of her probation, and is due in court for a progress check Wednesday.
Actress Lindsay Lohan is nearing the end of her probation, and is due in court for a progress check Wednesday.
  • Lohan is "on the home stretch" to complete morgue duty
  • Her probation could end next month, after 5 years
  • Lohan is in talks for Liz Taylor role
  • She'll host "Saturday Night Live" next week

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan's probation should end next month, clearing the way for the actress to revive her acting career possibly playing Elizabeth Taylor in a made-for-TV movie.

Lohan appears in court Wednesday for a judge to check her progress, but she's gotten glowing probation reports for the last two months.

Lohan's "on the home stretch" to completing her 480 hours of community service -- most of it cleaning up at the Los Angeles County morgue -- on schedule next month, her publicist Steve Honig said.

Once she's done, Lohan will be released from the strict probation requirements that started five years ago after two drunk driving convictions. She should have finished two years ago, but it was extended after several probation violations, including missed counseling sessions, failed drug and alcohol tests and a shoplifting conviction.

Stints in jail and court-ordered rehab cost Lohan acting jobs, but the light at the end of the strict probation tunnel appears in sight for Lohan.

Lohan travels to New York next week to host NBC's "Saturday Night Live" on March 3. It's her fourth time hosting the show, but the first since her legal troubles began in 2007.

She appears close to signing a deal to play the lead in a Lifetime network movie about legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, who died last ye! ar.

< p>Honig acknowledged negotiations are underway, but "nothing has been signed."

Although just 25, Lohan has deep knowledge of Hollywood's golden age and has a "high regard" for its icons, he said. She would "really embrace" the role of Taylor, he said.

The sales success of her nude photo spread in Playboy magazine, which hit news stands in December, is evidence that Lohan's star power survived her legal troubles.

Lohan was reportedly paid nearly $1 million to pose for the photos taken in a style reminiscent of the nude photograph of Marilyn Monroe that graced the debut issue of Playboy in 1953.