Louis Theroux stalked by Scientologists while making documentary

Documentary maker Louis Theroux has made a new film called My Scientology Movie.

TV personality Louis Theroux has revealed he was stalked by Scientologists while making a documentary about the controversial church.

The journalist, whose feature-length My Scientology Movie screens at New York's Tribeca film festival next week, said he was filmed covertly, repeatedly had the police called on him and received "a blizzard of legal letters" from lawyers.

He believes he was tailed by private investigators and that someone in Clearwater, Florida (the town at the heart of Scientology) attempted to hack his emails.

In an exclusive clip released to Entertainment Weekly, church official Catherine Fraser is seen ordering Theroux to move away from street beside a base in Hemet, California, while a security guard silently films the BBC reporter on a camcorder.

"The road's closed, you're trespassing and you need to leave," says an angry Ms Fraser, after describing him to someone on her mobile phone.

Theroux replies that he is on a public road and has a permit, which he tries to show her.

She insists it is not a public road. "Are you so stupid you cannot see the sign that says 'road closed'?" she asks.

Since Theroux failed to gain access to the church's headquarters, parts of his documentary consist of reenactments created with actors and the help of former Scientologists.

The British star, who tours Australia in September, wrote on Facebook: "I had travelled there with Andrew Perez, the actor who plays David Miscavige in our film. He was curious to see it and thought it might help him prepare for his performance. Then a couple of Sea Org members came to see what we were doing ..."

During the confrontation, he tells Ms Fraser: "My deep desire is actually to speak to someone from the Sea Org, so you're actually doing me quite a big favour."

She answers: "Right, right, oh yeah, you're so honest."

Theroux ends up pleading with her to stay and talk while she climbs back into her car.
He then turns to the Scientologist with the video camera, asking in his signature innocent style: "Are you making a documentary, too?"

The description of the documentary on the Tribeca film website reveals that "In a bizarre twist, it becomes clear that the Church is also making a film about Louis Theroux."

- news.com.au