Mel Gibson has described his infamous drink-driving incident as "a gift".

The actor came under fire for making anti-Semitic remarks to a police officer after being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in July, but Gibson has claimed that the episode helped him to regain focus in his life.

"I got a skinful and mouthed off, which is not coming from a good place, but I'm moving on from that," eecho.ie quotes Gibson as saying.

"[It was] a gift because it's made me really scratch my head and focus on a couple of things that I needed to. It's working out real positive, and hopefully that's reflecting in the lives that I'll touch."