The gallery, which houses portraits of famous Britons in every field, said Monday that the Beckham piece, titled "David," was "intriguing and intimate." It was shot in a single, long take and runs in a continuous loop on a plasma screen.

Artist Sam Taylor-Wood said it was a challenge to make an original portrait of Beckham because people see his image so frequently.

"I wanted to create a direct, closely observed study," she said in a statement. "Filming while he was asleep produces a different view from the many familiar, public images."

Her piece focuses on the star's face as he lies on his side, his head resting on one hand while the other curls beneath his chin.

"I liked the idea that he was eternally asleep in the National Portrait Gallery, so he was kind of a Sleeping Beauty," Taylor-Wood told Channel 4.