|TOP|Amid continuous religious controversy regarding The Da Vinci Code, French actress Audrey Tautou, co-star of the new film with, is saying critics should remember that the work is based on fiction.

Tautou, who plays the cryptologist Sophie Neveu in the film, is said to be surprised at the ongoing debates. After all, the movie is intended as entertainment, she says. Tautou herself was brought up in a church-going culture, and says she would never act in a film that was derogatory to the Christian faith.

She says: “The controversy, any of it, doesn’t worry me. There have been hundreds of books written on this subject and this is just fiction... it is not a true story or a documentary. It is also not a religious movie.”

“Everyone should be aware that this is just a thriller.”

|AD|In addition, Tom Hanks has recently hit out at calls from church groups and religious leaders to boycott ‘The Da Vinci’ Code film just one week before it is due for worldwide release.

The Hollywood actor, who plays the leading character Robert Langdon in the film version of Dan Brown’s controversial bestseller, has criticised the churches and religious leaders for taking the content too seriously.

"We always knew there would be a segment of society that would not want this movie to be shown," the star told London's Evening Standard newspaper.

"But the story we tell is loaded with all sorts of hooey and fun kind of scavenger-hunt-type nonsense."
He added that movie-goers would be making a “very big mistake” to take the film at face value.

"It's a damn good story and a lot of fun ... all it is is dialogue. That never hurts,” he said.

Hanks had also previously claimed that the movie could help ministers increase their congregations by starting a debate that will encourage more people to attend church.

"I think the movie may end up helping churches do their job," The Sun quoted Hanks as telling US magazine Entertainment Weekly.

“If they put up a sign saying: 'This Wednesday we are discussing the gospel', 12 people show up. But if a sign says: 'This Wednesday we are discussing The Da Vinci Code', 800 people show up.”