Woody Allen denies Bruni'a handful' on film set

He also rejected claims that he reshot her scenes with another actress and cut her from the film.

Reports that it took Bruni-Sarkozy 32 takes to shoot a scene were false, Allen said in an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, where his comic drama You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger played.

Allen said he did a typical eight or 10 takes with Bruni-Sarkozy. The film, shot in Paris, also stars Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard.

“She was no problem at all,” said Allen, who shot Midnight in Paris over the summer, his first film made in France. “I was delighted with her.”

He said Bruni-Sarkozy was not replaced and that her scenes remain in the film.

“This is a hundred per cent untrue,” Allen said. “She’s in the picture. Everything she shot is in the picture. I love her. She’s great.

“It’s not a big part, but it’s a respectable part. Everything was totally made up. Now, I did hire another actress late in the picture for another part, for a totally different role. They’re both in the picture.”

Bruni-Sarkozy plays a tour guide at the Rodin Museum in Midnight in Paris, which is expected in cinemas next year.

The director also denied rumours that her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was displeased with his wife when he visited the set.

“He came to the set once. We gave him earphones to hear her. He was delighted with her. He said: ‘My wife is a natural actress. She’s great.’