Portman 'didn't understand celibacy'

Rex Features

John Patrick Shanley has claimed that Natalie Portman turned down his new movie Doubt because she does not "understand" celibacy.

The writer and director said that Portman was the first pick for his new drama, but she struggled to get into the character of a nun.

He told GossipSauce: "We asked Natalie Portman, and Natalie was very interested but she kept saying she had a problem.

"And we finally nailed down as to what the problem was: she basically said she didn't understand celibacy."

Doubt stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.