Schnabel defends Freida Pinto casting

Julian Schnabel has defended his decision to cast Indian actress Freida Pinto as a Palestinian woman in his new movie.

The director chose Pinto to play the title role in the adaptation of writer Rula Jebreal's book Miral.

Schnabel told The Guardian: "I have other Palestinian women in the movie. If you look at her [Pinto], she looks like she could be Rula's sister. And she's a damn good actress."

Of Pinto's video audition recorded with her Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle - who played her father in the clip - Schnabel added: "She was so loving when she talked to him. I thought, 'She's perfect'.

"But the other thing is this: when people wonder, 'Why do you pick an Indian person?' Why is Russell Crowe Gladiator? I mean the guy is from New Zealand. Ben Kingsley played Gandhi!"