Sydney, Nov 27 : Natalie Portman was in the running to play the role of an emotionally conflicted nun in new movie ‘Doubt’, but the actress turned down the part because she didn''t "understand celibacy".

Director John Patrick Shanley revealed that he approached Natalie for playing the role of Sister James, which was eventually taken by Amy Adams.

"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,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Shanley as saying.

‘Doubt’ also stars Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, for which she has also been touted to win an Academy Award.

The film tells the story of a nun who confronts a priest after discovering he has been sexually abusing a black student.

Shanley also penned the play on which the film is based. (ANI)