HOTEL RWANDA - CHEADLE SHOCK AT REAL-LIFE EXTRAS

HOTEL RWANDA star DON CHEADLE was shocked to find survivors of the original 1994 Rwandan exodus employed as extras for the movie adaptation.

The 40-year-old stars as a Rwandan hotelier PAUL RUSESABAGINA in the war drama, which is based on the bleak depiction of the horrific genocide in Africa.

Cheadle tells EMPIRE magazine, "There were 700 extras on set, many of whom were actual survivors of the massacre.

"People would pull up their shirt and show me their machete scars.

"There was one who seemed very strange and was being troublesome.

"It turned out he was ex-militia and had been threatening people in the movie. They paid to get rid of him."

HOTEL RWANDA has been nominated for three OSCARS at this month's (FEB05) ACADEMY AWARDS, including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay.