Can Ang Lee save his ‘Lust, Caution’ actress?

Just weeks after Steven Spielberg dramatically resigned from his role as artistic advisor to the Beijing Olympics in protest at Chinese inaction over Darfur, China's state censors have risked the ire of another advisor to the Games. They have blacklisted the young Chinese actress who took the lead in Lust, Caution, the most recent film by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee.

When little-known 28-year-old Tang Wei was chosen for Lust, Caution, she was destined to become a household name across her homeland. The blacklisting has shocked the Chinese movie-going public.

In the movie, Tang's character seduces a Japanese-allied Chinese intelligence official in World War II-era Shanghai to pave way for his assassination, only to have second thoughts at the last moment. Lust, Caution was widely shown across China in late 2007, but with the film's graphic sex scenes cut by the censor. So many Chinese travelled to Hong Kong to see the uncensored version over the October national holiday that it became the territory's highest-grossing Chinese film last year.

On Friday, however, the Chinese media were notified by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) that any interviews, pictures or advertisements featuring Tang must be withdrawn immediately, including a campaign for which the Pond's skin-care brand has paid the actress a reported £400,000. Tang is no longer permitted to attend awards ceremonies. Online forums discussing her work and the film have disappeared.

Though SARFT has not explained its decision, industry insiders believe Tang has been made a scapegoat for the political content of Lee's film, which slipped through the SARFT censorship net.

According to Hollywood Reporter magazine, the fact that a Chinese girl might be attracted to such an evil, treacherous man has been interpreted by key figures within the central government as a "glorification of traitors and insulting to patriots".

Most surprising for those working within the Chinese film industry is the witch-hunt being waged against Tang. The withdrawal of films after their release is not unusual in China, but any action – usually a ban from making films in China for a year or two - is invariably against the director, not against actors or crew.

Lee, who is Taiwan-born but has been based for years in America (he won an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain), has come quickly to Tang's defence. "I am very disappointed that Tang Wei is being hurt by this decision," he said. "She gave one of the greatest performances ever in a movie that was properly produced and distributed. We will do everything we can to support her in this difficult time."

The question now is: will Ang Lee use his influence as an artistic advisor to the Olympics to protect his young protege? Might he, like Spielberg, withdraw from his Olympic role? ·