Leah Remini, an actress on the show King of Queens, has confirmed reports that she quit Scientology, claiming that she was interrogated by the church.  She had been devoted to Scientology for 30 years - along with giving millions of dollars in donations.   However, an incident at the Scientology wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes left her questioning the church.

Leah Remini said in a statement: "I wish to share my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have received from the media, my colleagues, and fans from around the world."

"I am truly grateful and thankful for all your support."

Leah Remini made no reference to the circumstances surrounding her defection from the controversial religion Scientology.

Remini is believed to be leaving the organization because she is against its policy of barring members from questioning the authority of Scientology leader David Miscavige.

A source told the New York post that the rift began at the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in 2006.   Tom Cruise is a highly ranking member of Scientology.

Remini allegedly asked about Miscavige's wife Shelly's absence from the Tom Cruise Katie Holmes wedding, causing former head of the Scientology Celebrity Center Tommy Davis to berate her.

According to a blog by ex-Scientology member Mike Rinder, Davis said: 'You don't have the [bleeping] rank to ask about Shelly.'

Scientology leader Miscavige's wife has not been seen in public for six years.

The actress was then subjected to five years of 'thought modification', according to the Post.

Church friends, many of whom Remini had known for years, allegedly wrote reports on her and had her family investigated.

According to Mr Rinder's blog, Remini 'will no longer tolerate the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church'.

However according to a contradictory blog post by Village Voice editor Tony Ortega on July 5, Remini remains loyal to the Scientology movement.

Ortega, who has investigated Scientology for 20 years, spoke to Remini's husband Angelo Pagán, who said neither he or his wife were at odds with the church and remained within the organization.

According to the Daily Mail, a Church of Scientology spokeperson said: 'The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member.'

A lawyer who represented Remini last year has not responded to a request for comment on the allegations.

Leah Remini is one of the most recognizable faces of Scientology.  Scientology has many celebrity members including Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and Juliette Lewis.  

In an interview with CNN, she said of Scientology's critics: 'If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church.

'If you're really against something, then know what you're against.'

Remini promoted the launch of a Hollywood museum backed by Scientology.  The museum is the
'Citizens Commission on Human Rights Psychiatry: An Industry of Death'. An important element of the Scientology religion is its criticism of psychiatry.

Remini, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, has been involved in the church for around 30 years after her mother joined in the 1970s.

Leah Remini married her King of Queens co-star Angelo Pagán in 200.  The couple have a nine-year-old daughter Sofia Bella. The family lives in Los Angeles.

Watch Leah Remini Kind of Queens video here: