Actor ETHAN HAWKE has praised MADONNA for standing up for Romania's gypsy community - insisting the singer "transcended" her pop star status by speaking out about their plight.
The Training Day star campaigns as part of his mother Leslie's charity, Ovidiu Rom, to ensure children from Roma backgrounds receive proper education.
And during a trip to promote the cause, Hawke thanked Madonna for risking a backlash from her fans by urging people to fight discrimination against gypsies in Europe.
He says, "She transcended being a pop star. She drew international attention and shone the spotlight on a level of racism and the need for greater education. I don't have an agenda, Madonna doesn't have an agenda. We aren't politicians."
Madonna was booed by revellers at her own concert in the country's capital Bucharest in August (09) after she pleaded with fans to end discrimination against the gypsy community.
