Queen Latifah is keen to adopt an American child because she wants to "help a kid in the hood".

The rapper-and-actress - real name Dana Owens - is determined to adopt in the US and has levelled a veiled criticism against stars like Angelina Jolie and Madonna who have adopted from abroad.

She told US chat show host Ellen Degeneres: "I want to help a kid in the hood. I want to adopt an American baby. There's just so many kids that could use a home."

Angelina Jolie has two adopted children with boyfriend Brad Pitt - five-year-old Maddox from Cambodia and two-year-old Zahara from Ethiopia.

Madonna caused controversy last October when she and her director husband Guy Ritchie adopted one-year-old David Banda from Malawi.

Other stars who have adopted from abroad include Meg Ryan and Ewan McGregor.

Taken from M&C