US President Barack Obama has said he is a great fan of the Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood who criticised him in an odd Republican National Convention speech in which he used an empty chair as a stand-in for Obama.

Obama said that the Academy Award-winning Eastwood is "a great actor, and an even better director."

But Obama was coy when asked if he was offended by the performance. "I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan," Obama told USA Today. "I think the last few movies that he's made have been terrific," he said. When asked if he was offended by Eastwood's interview, Obama said, "One thing about being president or running for president '" if you're easily offended, you should probably choose another profession."

He said there would be no effort to counter with a similar stunt at the Democratic National Convention, which opens in Charlotte tomorrow, the daily said. "I think we'll be playing this pretty straight," Obama said.