Kevin Costner has not "shoved" his children into the entertainment business

He has now spoken about not being a pushy showbiz parent after he decided to cast his son Hayes in his epic new Western movie 'Horizon: An American Saga' despite the teen lacking any acting experience.

Kevin told the 'Today' show about Hayes playing Nathaniel Kittredge in the first of the four-part Civil War-era film without an audition: "He's a beautiful boy, and he's quiet. And I have not shoved my children into the business.

"I realise there are so many young actors out there that would just kill to be in this movie, and I don't want to take those parts away from them just 'cause I can place my own children in."

Kevin also admitted his decision was "selfish", but said Hayes' role only required two weeks of filming.

He added: "But, in a sense, it was a smaller part. I selfishly wanted him with me for the week, two weeks, he was with me. And we would drive to the set every day and he would whisper.

"He didn't have a lot of experience, but he's really beautiful in the movie.

"(His is) a really complicated scene. In the end, there's a nobility - there's an absolute fatalness about it. It's what you want in a son.

"It's what you don't want a son to do, and at the end of the day, you're proud that he would make that choice,."

Kevin told in April how the character he plays in 'Horizon' was an inspiration for Hayes' name.

He told Entertainment Tonight: "I named him after the character I play in this. My character's name is Hayes Ellison.

"And I named Hayes that character. So I was watching him grow up and I was thinking, 'Man, I better get with it and make this movie.'"

Kevin last month brought five of his seven children to the Cannes Film Festival, saying he needed a "tour director" to keep them in line.