Mind subject denies anti-Semitism

Ron Howard's film has received eight Oscar nominations

Mathematician John Nash, portrayed by Russell Crowe in the Oscar-nominated A Beautiful Mind, has denied charges of anti-Semitism.

Speaking on the US TV programme 60 Minutes, Mr Nash, 73, also dismissed rumours that he was a closet homosexual.

I did have strange ideas during certain periods of time

John Nash

The mathematician broke his silence after press speculation about his beliefs and behaviour - and criticism that the film portrayal of his battle with schizophrenia had ignored unsavoury aspects of his life.

The interview will be shown in full on the TV network CBS on Sunday.

The Nobel laureate was interviewed, with his wife Alicia and their son Johnny, by 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace.

Jennifer Connelly: A supporting actress nod

Nash responded to the recent publication of a letter, apparently attacking Jews, that the mathematician wrote in 1967.

He said he "vigorously denies" being anti-Semitic - but he accepted that, while ill, he might have said things that could be construed as anti-Semitic.

"I did have strange ideas during certain periods of time," he said, adding that he used to hear voices.

"It's really my subconscious talking. It was really that. I know that now."

Nash also denied being gay, but said it was an issue he did not want to discuss.

"I've learned that it's better that I don't talk about it," he said.

Arrest

But his wife Alicia said she was certain her husband was not gay: "I've known him since I was 20 and that's just not true - I should know."

Nash's 1954 arrest in a public toilet for indecent exposure has led some gay activists to suggest he might have been a closet homosexual.

But Sylvia Nasar, author of the 1998 biography on which the film was based, wrote in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that she never doubted Nash was heterosexual - and noted that the charge against Nash was dropped.

Crowe and Connelly both won Golden Globes

Another criticism leveled at Nash is that he ignored a son born of an early relationship, not mentioned in A Beautiful Mind.

The CBS programme reports that Nash says he's now close to that son, John Stier - and has given him a share of the royalties from the film.

John Nash's schizophrenia diminished through the 1970s and 1980s, but his other son Johnny suffers from the disease.

"It's almost as if a demon might have passed from one host to another," said the mathemtician.

A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard, has a total of eight Oscar nominations - including best direction, best leading actor for Russell Crowe and best supporting actress for Jennifer Connelly.

The Oscars ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC Two on Monday 25 March from 0045-0500 GMT and reported live on BBC News Online.