Actress backs Gibson Christ film

The Passion of The Christ is released in the US this month

One of the stars of Mel Gibson's controversial movie The Passion Of The Christ has defended the film against charges of anti-Semitism.

Romanian actress Maia Morgenstern, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, said those people who saw the film "will primarily see a work of art".

And she praised Gibson for his professionalism and kindness.

The film, which documents the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, opens in the UK on 26 March.

"Mel Gibson is an artist, a director. He never imposed his religious convictions on anyone," Morgenstern said.

The actress, who plays Mary, is well-known on both stage and screen in Romania but she is not a familiar face outside Europe.

She said if the film did have a message, it is more about how people can be manipulated by their leaders.

Editing

Gibson has said the film is meant to inspire "faith, hope, love and forgiveness"

Jewish and Christian groups announced a lecture campaign earlier this week after fearing it could incite anti-Semitism.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Mel Gibson may be considering cutting the film's most controversial scene - in which a Jewish high priest declares a blood curse on Jews for the death of Christ.

The newspaper stated that an unnamed "close associate" of director Gibson said he had decided to delete the scene.

Jewish groups say the passage taken from the Gospel of Matthew 27: 25 was often used in medieval passion plays which sparked anti-Semitic feeling.

But a spokesman for Gibson said he would not comment on the New York Times report.

"It would be irresponsible of me to talk about a work in progress," said Alan Nierob.

He did say the scene was absent from an early version of the film he saw but it was included in a screening shown to a group of evangelical Christian pastors in Florida last month.