London, Jan 30 : Robert Downey Jr. has revealed that he initially turned down his Oscar-nominated role in `Tropic Thunder' - because he feared he would be `crucified' for portraying a black man on screen.

The white `Iron Man' star has received the Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who undergoes an operation to darken his skin in order to play an African-American character.

However, the actor has revealed that he came close to turning down the part offered to him by director/co-star Ben Stiller, fearing the film would cause controversy but eventually changing his mind.

"My reaction was, like, find someone else who needs to take some big ass risk and get crucified for it," the Daily Express quoted him, as telling British TV show This Morning.

He added: "But then I thought there really is a way if people understand the concept of the movie - to make it entertaining and not make it stupid or offensive. Did I nail it or am I in trouble?" (ANI)