Nude poster star 'felt exploited'

The poster used for advertising the opera

An actor whose naked image was used on posters to publicise an opera has said he feels "exploited" about his picture being used without permission.

Juan Pablo Di Pace, 28, was cast in the crowd scenes of Verdi's mid-19th Century opera Rigoletto in 2001.

Earlier reports said the actor had complained about the Royal Opera House airbrushing out his manhood.

But speaking to the BBC, Mr Di Pace said this was not the reason behind his objection.

Argentina-born Mr Di Pace said the poster was "flattering" and looked like a "Caravaggio painting" but that he was surprised to see it advertising the show without being notified.

He said: "It's seven years on and I'm working in films and TV now, that kind of publicity I really don't need... I think [they] should get a new campaign.

Mr Di Pace says he was not notified about the advertisements

"In a way I feel exploited, no one even asked me if it was ok for me to have my naked body on display."

Mr Di Pace has appeared in the Catherine Tate show, in the BBC show Aftersun and features in this year's Hollywood adaptation of Mamma Mia!

He added that he was just out of drama school when the picture was taken and was unaware that his pictures could be used for publicity later.

"As far as I'm concerned that's the end of it... I wanted them to withdraw," he said.

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, central London, said it had manipulated the original photograph, including adding a cape to cover the part of his anatomy at the centre of the dispute.

It has said it will stop using the image after the actor "expressed his discontent".

When Rigoletto is next performed in 2009, Mr Di Pace's picture will not feature in the advertisements, it said.