Natalie Portman: Walled in

New York, March 1 (AP): Natalie Portman says filming a kissing scene beside Jerusalem?s Western Wall for her upcoming movie Free Zone was a mistake.

?I really don?t want to offend anyone?s beliefs or impose anything on anyone and it was mistaken to do it,? Portman told Access Hollywood in an interview broadcast yesterday.

The 23-year-old Israeli-born actor and her crew were confronted by ultra-orthodox Jewish worshippers last week while filming the scene with Israeli actor Aki Avni. The incident underlined the sensitivity of the site, a remnant of the biblical Jewish temples, the holiest place where Jews can pray.

The site is controlled by strictly observant Jews. Male and female worshippers are separated by a barrier perpendicular to the wall, following orthodox Jewish rules forbidding casual contact between the sexes.

?As soon as it offended people, we moved,? Portman said. ?We had a very hectic work schedule, so we weren?t thinking. We shouldn?t have done it.?