by the censor. So many Chinese travelled to Hong Kong to see the uncensored version over the October national holiday that it became the territory's highest-grossing Chinese film last year.

On Friday, however, the Chinese media were notified by the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) that any interviews, pictures or advertisements featuring Tang must be withdrawn immediately, including a campaign for which the Pond's skin-care brand has paid the actress a reported £400,000. Tang is no longer permitted to attend awards ceremonies. Online forums discussing her work and the film have disappeared.

Though SARFT has not explained its decision, industry insiders believe Tang has been made a scapegoat for the political content of Lee's film, which slipped through the SARFT censorship net.

According to Hollywood Reporter magazine, the fact that a Chinese girl might be attracted to such an evil, treacherous man has been interpreted by key figures within the

central government as a "glorification of traitors and insulting to patriots".

Most surprising for those working within the Chinese film industry is the witch-hunt being waged against Tang. The withdrawal of films after their release is not unusual in China, but any action – usually a ban from making films in China for a year or two - is invariably against the director, not against actors or crew.

Lee, who is Taiwan-born but has been based for years in America (he won an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain), has come quickly to Tang's defence. "I am very disappointed that Tang Wei is being hurt by this decision," he said. "She gave one of the greatest performances ever in a movie that was properly produced and distributed. We will do everything we can to support her in this difficult time."

The question now is: will Ang Lee use his influence as an artistic advisor to the Olympics to protect his young protege? Might he, like Spielberg, withdraw from his Olympic role?