Eva Green is "probably a witch" as she's so mysterious, says filmmaker Tim Burton.

The actress stars in the film director's upcoming fantasy comedy Dark Shadows, which is based on the 1966 - 1971 gothic soap opera of the same name.

Eva plays Angelique Bouchard - a vengeful witch, and Tim has joked she bears a striking resemblance to her character.

"Eva's like an old silent movie star. There's a mystery to her, which is kind of amazing in this day and age when you know absolutely everything about everyone," Tim told Empire magazine.

"She's like a witch. She probably is a witch and just doesn't want anyone to know it. I think she really is."

Eva is the perfect star to play the seductive witch, claims Tim. He thinks the beauty fits the "dark" brief surrounding the film's casting.

"I'd only seen Eva in Casino Royale," he explained. "But there was this thing I used to say that would drive the casting director nuts. He would suggest people and I'd say, They're not very Dark Shadows.' He'd ask what that meant and I still don't really know what it means, but I do know that Eva is very Dark Shadows."