Clint Eastwood backs US presidential candidate amid sex scandal claims

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Hollywood legend says the beleaguered Republican candidate and former chief executive officer (CEO) of a US pizza chain is a “doer and a straight-talker”.

'I love Cain's story,” Eastwood tells the newspaper. 'He's a guy who came from nowhere and did well, obviously against heavy odds.

'He's a doer and a straight-talker, which I don't see enough of from either party.'

The 81-year-old actor-director, who is currently promoting his latest project, J Edgar – a biopic of the controversial former head of the FBI, J Edgar Hoover – is one of Hollywood's few high-profile Republican supporters.

But despite voting Republican in the US general elections, Eastwood says that he is not as conservative as people might imagine.

'I've always been very liberal when it comes to people thinking for themselves,' admits Eastwood, who says he is also a supporter of gay marriage, abortion rights, and environmental protection.

'But I'm a big hawk on cutting the deficit. I was against the stimulus thing, too. We shouldn't be bailing out the banks and car companies.”

He adds: 'If a CEO can't figure out how to make his company profitable, then he shouldn't be the CEO.'