Actor Russell Crowe has denied reports he is to portray the recently deceased Australian naturalist Steve Irwin in a film.

The Gladiator star said the idea was “appalling” and offended him “very deeply”.

He said it was “so awful that I have to deal with millions of people thinking I would dance on my friend’s grave.”

The 42-year-old who made a recorded tribute at Irwin’s memorial service last week has been in New York promoting his latest film, A Good Year.

Mr Irwin, 44, died after being struck in the chest by the stingray’s barb whilst filming on the Great Barrier Reef earlier this month.

In a separate interview, Crowe said he would no longer be starring with Nicole Kidman in a historical epic set in the Australian outback.

“I just didn’t want to work on that movie in the type of environment that was being created because of the needs of the budget,” he said.

“I do charity work, but I don’t do charity work for major studios.”

The untitled romance, to be directed by Baz Luhrmann, was due to begin shooting this month.

Hugh Jackman will now star with Kidman in the $150m (£79.1m) production, described by its director as an epic story set to rival Gone With the Wind.