Maria Conchita Alonso has blasted her Colours co-star Sean Penn for his outspoken political views about her native Venezuela, insisting he should "shut up" and stop showing his support to the country's "killer" president, Hugo Chavez.
Milk star Penn has voiced his admiration for Chavez on numerous occasions - the actor visited the politician in 2007, when he was writing an article about the leader, and caught up with him again in 2008.
In a 2007 interview following his first trip to the South American country, Penn said: "The first thing I'm going to say is that we know more lies about him in the United States than we know truth. If you want a soundbite from me about Chavez, then I would say that, for the moment, he's much more positive for Venezuela than he is negative."
And while Alonso, who appeared alongside Penn in the 1988 film, admits Penn is a great actor, she is angry he is publicly backing Chavez, who has been criticised for his controversial leadership.
She tells TMZ.com, "He's an amazing actor, I can't take that away from him. It's just that he has no clue at all what's going on in Venezuela.
"He's praising Hugo Chavez, who's a killer and a dictator. I tried to put aside his political thing that he has no clue (about), so he should just shut up about what he doesn't know."
And the Latina was particularly incensed when she saw Penn win the Best Actor Oscar at last month's (Feb09) Academy Awards.
She recalls, "I put it on mute. I was watching in my room... So when his turn came, I mute it (sic). When he comes on stage (to collect the prize), I was like, 'No!'"
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