Crowe meets Anglican leader after ‘Noah’ premiere.

LONDON (AP) — The pope said no, but the leader of Anglicans worldwide was happy to meet Russell Crowe, star of the biblical epic “Noah.”

Crowe was denied a private audience with Pope Francis when promoting the film in Rome last month.

But the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, met the actor at the clergyman’s home in Lambeth Palace on Tuesday, the day after the film’s UK premiere, to discuss faith and spirituality.

Director Darren Aronofsky’s film is a box-office success in the US, but some Christian conservatives have complained that it takes liberties with the biblical account of the flood. It was banned in much of the Muslim world because of its portrayal of the prophet.

Welby’s office said the archbishop had seen “Noah” and found it “interesting and challenging”.