Actress Zoe Saldana refused to re-watch classic horror Rosemary's Baby so it wouldn't impose on her performance in the new Tv version.

The Avatar star is stepping into the role made famous by Mia Farrow in Roman Polanski's 1968 big screen adaptation of Ira Levin's terrifying occult novel.

Although Saldana insists she is a fan of the original, she decided against watching the film while preparing to shoot the small screen reboot.

She tells the New York Daily News, "Like everybody else, I'm a fan of the original. But I haven't seen it in years and I didn't want it to color my performance.

"I didn't want to copy what Mia did. I wanted to do it my way, according to my age and the time and generation I belong to."

Saldana also insists fans of Farrow's film don't have to be put off by the reboot: "I believe a new version doesn't have to replace the old one. It just offers a new perspective... and I think we do a pretty good job of it."

The series is set to air in the U.S. on 11 May (14).