McKellen Revels In Da Vinci Controversy

Ian Mckellen Courts Controversy At Cannes.English actor IAN McKELLEN is bemused by the controversy over THE DA VINCI CODE novel and movie, insisting Christians should be happy with the theory that JESUS CHRIST married and produced a bloodline.The gay star, who plays SIR LEIGH TEABING in the RON HOWARD movie, supports the fictional plot that Jesus married MARY MAGDALENE, because it would prove the prophet wasn't a homosexual.Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival in France on Wednesday (17MAY06), McKellen said, "When I read the book I believed it entirely. I thought that Leigh Teabing argued his case very convincingly indeed, and clever DAN BROWN for twisting my mind in the right direction."And when I put the book down, I thought what a load of... and that's still going on in my mind."I'm very happy to believe that Jesus was married. And I know the Catholic church has problems with gay people and so this would be absolute proof that Jesus was not gay."Meanwhile the controverial movie adaptation has been approved by censors in India, despite a string of protests from Christians seeking to have the TOM HANKS-starring film banned.The movie was given an adult rating and disclaimers were ordered for both the start and end, reminding viewers the work is fictional.

The move is a blow for devout Christians in the country who have taken offence to the film's suggestion JESUS CHRIST fathered a child.

JOSEPH DIAS, head of the Catholic Secular Forum, has been on hunger strike in a bid to have director RON HOWARD's project banned, and has also sued distributor Sony Films and the board of censors for "hurting religious sentiments".

The case is due in court today (19MAY06).