Viggo Mortensen is set to snub the Oscars. The 49-year-old actor - who is up for a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a ruthless Russian gangster in 'Eastern Promises' - will boycott next month's prestigious Academy Awards if the Hollywood writers' strike is still unresolved.

He said: "If there's a strike I will not go but I have a feeling they'll solve it. I hope they do. I'm sure my mother would like to see me on TV."

Viggo Mortensen's naked fight scene for 'Eastern Promises' was "slippery, painful and embarrassing."

The 'Lord of the Rings' actor, who had to shoot a four-minute nude fight in a steamy Turkish bath for the movie, insists it would have ruined the film if he had kept his towel on.

Viggo Mortensen's naked fight scene for 'Eastern Promises' was "slippery, painful and embarrassing." The 'Lord of the Rings' actor, who had to shoot a four-minute nude fight in a steamy Turkish bath for the movie, insists it would have ruined the film if he had kept his towel on.

Viggo, who plays a Russian mob member in the film, said: "That scene was slippery, painful and embarrassing. I always knew the scene should be as realistic as the rest of the movie, so I couldn't feasibly keep the towel on."

Viggo Mortensen has been mistaken for a member of the mafia.

The actor - who plays a Russian mobster in new film "Eastern Promises" - sports fake tattoos for the role and kept them on after shooting when he went out for dinner in London.