Russell Crowe meets The Archbishop of Canterbury to talk Noah after Papal encounter

The Australian actor continues his plight to discuss his new film with important religious leaders

While critics may be nonplussed by Darren Aronofsky’s much-talked-about Noah, it looks as if the Archbishop of Canterbury is a fan.

Russell Crowe has followed up his encounter with the Pope with a get-together with Archbishop Justin Welby at Lambeth Palace in London to discuss the big screen epic.

The Noah team managed to engineer a meeting with the Pope earlier this month, when Crowe was introduced to the Pontiff - although we'd imagine that the worldwide head of the Catholic church has more cerebral things to be doing.

“I think considering the controversy surrounding this movie, it would have been so easy for the Vatican to rescind that invitation and just let it be that way but the kindness to actually let that invitation stand though is consistent with who he has been," said Crowe.

And now it seems that the Australian actor has won over another religious leader in Welby. A source close to the religious leader told The Telegraph that the Archbishop found the film “interesting and thought-provoking”.

Crowe was also keen to point out one of his highlights from the visit – discovering that staff at Lambeth Palace have a penchant for Australian actors, although he’s not their man of choice.

Noah staged its European premiere on Monday night in London’s Leicester Square, attended by Crowe, Emma Watson and Jennifer Connelly.