Leading Mexicanactor Gael Garcia Bernal has attacked what he says is Hollywood stereotyping of Latin America.

Speaking atThe Times London Film Festival in London, the star of The Motorcycle Diaries, said there seemed to be two roles forHispanic people: "the bad guy" and "the good Latino from the slums."

The26-year-old, who came to international attention with Amores Perros, told the audience at London's National Film Theatre he feltthere was pressure to "whitewash" the Latin American identity to make it in theUS.

"It isimportant not to compromise your identity to be accepted," he said.

Bernal'sfirst English language film The Kingpremiered at the festival, which finishes on Thursday.