Cage's Debt to Cher

8 months ago 18th Mar 06:30

Nicolas Cage credits Cher with helping him become a Hollywood star - because she fought to land him a role alongside her in Oscar-winning movie Moonstruck.

Studio bosses were reluctant to cast the then-23-year-old Cage as Cher's love interest in the film - but the singeractress dug her heels in andlanded him the part of New York baker Ronny Cammareri.

She really was a champion for me. At a time when people didn't see me as a romantic actor, she fought for meNicolas Cage talking about Cher

The movie won Cher a Best Actress Oscar and catapulted Cage onto the Hollywood A-list - and he is eternally grateful.

He says, "She really was a champion for me. At a time when people didn't see me as a romantic actor, she fought for me".

In other news Nicolas Cage is planning a break from acting to pursue a more extreme pastime - as a licensed hang gliding pilot.

The Leaving Las Vegas star is entranced by the idea of soaring through the air with a pair of his own wings.

And he's looking for a break in between films so he can travel to the Swiss Alps, where the actor has learned he can become certified to fly in just two weeks.

He says, "It's probably one of the most beautiful things a man can do. You're just soaring in the sky like an eagle... It's less dangerous now. They say it's not as bad as racing cars and it's probably no more dangerous than riding a bicycle, so I'm ready to get my pilots license".

But Cage insists he won't be taking up any other extreme sports any time soon.

He adds, "Skydiving doesn't interest me at all. There's no muscle in mybody that tells me to jump out of an airplane. I just don't get it".