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Julia Roberts is "magnificent" in Eat Pray Love, according to the memoir's author Elizabeth Gilbert.
The writer, who is portrayed by the Pretty Woman star in the film adaptation of the bestselling book, is thrilled that the Oscar-winner adds her own touch to the character without copying her.
"She's magnificent in it. She brings something to the movie that is entirely her own - I wrote her a letter at the beginning of the process and I said, 'Don't feel like you have to imitate me or worry about me, I know you know how to do your job, so just fall into this role and bring out of it whatever you want to make of it', and she took her own journey and made it uniquely hers," Elizabeth revealed at the film's UK premiere.
Elizabeth admitted to being star-struck when she first met the Hollywood actress.
"I made a fool out of myself when I first met her. I just stared at her and said, 'You're so pretty, you're so pretty' - she is exceptionally pretty," she recalled.
She was more than happy to leave the movie in the hands of director Ryan Murphy and his leading lady and take a backseat role.
"I don't know anything about making movies so I thought I should leave them alone and let them do it. It was easy to trust that they would get it right," Elizabeth added.
:: Eat Pray Love is in cinemas now.
