Jodie Foster: Mel Gibson is loving and sensitive

Actress Jodie Foster has praised Mel Gibson for the performance he gave in comedy-drama The Beaver.

Foster, who stars alongside him in the film, said he is "incredibly loving and sensitive".

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, the 48-year-old star said: "He is the most loved actor I have ever worked with on a movie. And he's not saintly, and he's got a big mouth, and he'll do gross things your nephew would do.

"But I knew the minute I met him that I would love him the rest of my life."

Foster said she knows the actor in a "very complex way" and would not be tempted to turn her back on him, despite his recent bad press.

"I know that he has troubles and when you love somebody you don't just walk away from them when they are struggling," she added.

The Beaver tells the story of a troubled husband who uses a beaver hand puppet as his sole means of communicating.