Postlethwaite hard to persuade into 'Town' role: Affleck

Hollywood star Ben Affleck said British actor Pete Postlethwaite took a lot of persuading to appear in his new film, 'The Town'.

The Oscar winner, who directed and co-wrote the heist thriller as well as starring as Boston bank robber Doug MacRay, was determined to sign up Postlethwaite as crime boss Fergie the Florist but kept being rejected.

“I had to call Pete five times, as he kept turning me down – I had to accommodate him because I knew how great he was,” said Affleck, 38, at the film’s special Bafta screening in London’s West End last night.

'The Town' had a strong opening weekend in the US and is on course to top the box office, beating rivals 'Easy A' and 'Devil'.

“I’m shocked and pleased. It is a modest movie, it’s R-rated but obviously people want to see it,” Affleck added.

Co-star Rebecca Hall, looking elegant in a black mini-dress and Nicholas Kirkwood heels, did not need much persuasion to join the star-studded cast, which included Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner, Mad Men star Jon Hamm and Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively.

“I didn’t need any persuasion. It was a no-brainer. 'The Town' is a classic, old-fashioned good yarn,” she said.

'The Town' marks Affleck’s second directorial effort and is based on the novel 'Prince Of Thieves' by Chuck Hogan.

It opens in cinemas on Friday September 24.