Keisha 'does not have to be a saint'

Keisha Castle-Hughes

A Catholic spokesman has scoffed at rumours the church has banned Keisha Castle-Hughes from this weekend's world premiere at the Vatican of her latest movie.

Christian websites in the US and Canada have questioned the 16-year-old New Zealander's "suitability" to play the mother of Christ in The Nativity Story because she is pregnant to her Auckland boyfriend, Bradley Hull, 19.

But a spokesman for the Papal Council for Culture has told the Times of London Castle-Hughes is "not expected to be a saint herself, only to do her work as an actress properly".

Castle-Hughes has said she is too busy to attend the premiere.

The film opens in NZ on Thursday.