Hurt stunned by Spielberg offer

Veteran actor John Hurt was stunned to be offered a part in 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' - because he thought a call from Steven Spielberg was a hoax.

The 68-year-old stars alongside Harrison Ford in the latest instalment of the adventure franchise - but feared he had upset Spielberg by asking to look over the script before he made his decision.

"When I got the call from Steven Spielberg I almost said: 'Yeah, pull the other one!'," he said.

"Then I thought: 'Hang on, I recognise that voice. It really is him!'

"He asked me if I'd like to come and do the film and I insisted on seeing the script. I was told later that nobody asks to see the script when Spielberg calls, you just say: 'Yes.'

"They had to send a courier over from Los Angeles, who delivered the script at three in the afternoon, collected it at eight in the evening, stayed the night in a hotel and flew back to Los Angeles. It was a very expensive read."