Julia Roberts is support Javier Bardem to win an Oscar for his display in Biutiful: The Pretty Woman star worked with the Spanish heartthrob on Eat, Pray Love and is adamant that his performance asa wheeler-dealing psychic who is struggling to keep his family together after learning he has cancer, should win an award.

Julia, who even hosted her own screening of Biutiful for celebrity friends in Los Angles to drum up support, told Entertainment Weekly: "He's so raw and completely open to sharing every emotion this character has.

"I was telling him at dinner tonight, when I watched it I had to keep stopping and saying, '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. And 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."

The film has already been overlooked at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the many critics choice awards and the Golden Globes.

Julia said: "I think the movie hasn't gotten the exposure. 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.