Julia Roberts has backed her Eat Pray Love co-star Javier Bardem to pick up his second Oscar.
The actor is back on the big screen with his new movie Biutiful, which is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez, and Roberts had nothing but praise for his performance.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly the actress said: "When I watched it I had to keep stopping and say, 'Okay, this is not actually happening to Javier.' Because it's his face and his big eyes.
"I think it's unexpected for a man to expose himself so deeply.
"It's incredibly agonising in its subtleties. I just have a great appreciation for what he went through to show us all this. I know it had to hurt.
"I think the movie hasn't gotten the exposure," she said. "You don’t know where it is. It's like this hidden little jewel.
"Especially in this particular season, people don't hunt for things. They just take what you throw in their face."
Bardem picked up a Best Supporting Actor gong for his performance in the Coen brothers' No Country For Old Men.
Biutiful is released 28th January.
Tagged in Javier Bardem Julia Roberts