Keisha's Nativity film premieres at the Vatican

Keisha Castle-Hughes did not attend the premiere of her latest film The Nativity Story in the Vatican this morning (NZ time) but 7,000 other people did.

The film about the birth of Jesus Christ became the first feature-film ever to premiere in the Vatican, but Pope Benedict XVI did not attend.

Castle-Hughes plays Jesus' mother Mary in the film that also stars Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo and Oscar Isaac.

Despite the Vatican's blessing of the film, director Katherine Hardwicke said the film was not aimed solely for religious audiences.

The film will open to New Zealand audiences this Thursday at cinemas nationwide.

- NZHERALD STAFF