Weaver is in the UK promoting her latest film Snow Cake

"He was always such a decent guy when I worked with him," said the 56-year-old, who starred with the actor in 1982 film The Year of Living Dangerously.

"I didn't notice any bigotry in him whatsoever," she added. "He was one of the nicest guys I've ever worked with."

Weaver was speaking in London ahead of a visit to the Edinburgh Film Festival.

The Alien and Ghostbusters star will be interviewed on stage on Tuesday in the Scottish capital ahead of a screening of her latest film, Snow Cake.

She is also due to be presented with a special award in recognition of her body of work.

'Incredibly generous'

Asked to offer her opinion of Gibson, whose widely reported tirade during his drink-drive arrest on 28 July has prompted many to question his Hollywood future, Weaver said this incident did not reflect "who he really is".

"I can only go with what my knowledge of him was," she told the BBC News website. "If anything, he seemed incredibly generous to everybody.

"I don't really know where it comes from," she continued. "It's a shame - I hope he works this out."

In Snow Cake Weaver plays a high-functioning adult autistic who forms a relationship with a tight-lipped Englishman, played by Alan Rickman.