Actress Charlotte Rampling has suggested the Oscars are "racist" against white people, following complaints over the lack of black actors represented this year.

Rampling - who is nominated in the best actress category for her performance in 45 Years - told French Radio station Europe 1 that the uproar surrounding the all-white shortlist and subsequent calls to boycott the ceremony was "racist to whites".

After facing criticism over her Oscars comments, Rampling apologized in a statement: "I regret that my comments could have been misinterpreted".

She added that she wished every performance was given equal opportunity for consideration.

By Friday evening, she was on board: "Diversity in our industry is an important issue that needs to be addressed", her statement continued. People will always say: "Him, he's less handsome"; "Him, he's too black"; "He is too white"... someone will always be saying "You are too" (this or that)... When the interviewer then explained that black members of the film industry feel like a minority, Rampling responded, "No comment".

Oscars organizers the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced major changes in its membership rules, pledging to double its membership of women and minorities by 2020, and stripping voting rights from inactive members. "So what we really need is people in positions to greenlight those stories, not a hunk of metal", he said.

Even the Cloonster has got involved, admitting he feels the Academy Awards are moving in the wrong direction with its "all-white" nominations.

Veteran actress Charlotte Rampling pictured at Cannes Film Festival.

David Oyelowo, the British star of Selma, a biopic about Martin Luther King, said: "For actors of colour to be missed previous year is one thing; for that to happen again is unforgivable".

"Be patient", was Caine's message to non-white actors, "Of course it will come". I saw Idris Elba (in Beasts Of No Nation).

The Academy has implemented emergency changes to membership to ensure there is a wider representation of ethnic diversities.