AceShowbiz - "Lord of the Rings" actor Andy Serkis is adamant Academy Awards' bosses should not create a category for the actors behind computer generated characters - insisting their performances are still acting. Many critics called for Zoe Saldana to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actress prize at this year's Oscars for her turn as an alien in "Avatar". The actress performed and voiced the role, with her movements and facial expressions translated on-screen with computer-generated imagery (CGI).

And Serkis, who shot to fame providing the movements for "Lord of the Rings" character Gollum and movie ape "King Kong", has dismissed suggestions Oscar organizers should hand out a trophy to "performance capture" actors.

He tells the BBC, "It's a very interesting debate. The industry is going to be using performance capture more and more in films. Personally I've never believed there should be a separate category because the essence of the performance is pure acting."

"It's ultimately whether whoever's voting for the awards thinks the performance is a genuinely moving character. I don't really think there should a special acting in a digital realm award or anything. From an acting standpoint, it's the same."