Jodie Foster: 'Mel Gibson could handle beaver'

Jodie Foster has revealed that she cast Mel Gibson in The Beaver because he was "charming and funny" enough to be convincing when playing with a puppet.

The actress-director's film centres on Gibson's character Walter Black, who escapes his depression by speaking through a cockney beaver hand puppet.

She told Latino Review: "He can be charming and funny, and I knew he would be able to handle the beaver stuff, puppeteering and give it that affability in the beginning of the film."

Foster added that Gibson had similar interests to his character, making her believe that he could bring the same issues to the film.

The film also stars Hunger Games lead Jennifer Lawrence and Anton Yelchin, as Gibson's confused daughter and son.

On a recent appearance on David Letterman, Foster was asked to comment on Gibson's personal controversies, including his difficult relationship with his real-life children following a high-profile split from ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

Foster has previously described herself as being close to the troubled star.

Watch the trailer for The Beaver below: