Not Believing a Celibacy, Natalie Portman Abandons 'Doubt'

Natalie Portman was interested to be a nun in "Doubt, but she finally opted to turn down the role in the movie adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's hit play of the same title. At the junket for the motion picture, the playwright who is also the director revealed the actress' reason for dropping the position.

During the event, being asked by a journalist about the matter, Patrick Shanley answered, "I'm trying to think of what the etiquette is on this." He added following the reporter's persuasion, "Well, we asked Natalie Portman, and Natalie was very interested but kept saying she had a problem. And we finally nailed down as to what the problem was. She basically said she didn't understand celibacy."

Natalie Portman was previously tapped for the role as Sister James in "Doubt", a story about the quest for truth, the forces of change, and the devastating consequences of blind justice in an age defined by moral conviction. She is replaced by Amy Adams. Actress Meryl Streep also signs in the film as Sister Aloysius Beauvier.

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