Movie maker GORE VERBINSKI insists JULIA ROBERTS is worth every bit of her $20 million (£13 million)-per-film pay cheque - because her films have no need of expensive special effects.

The director, who worked with the PRETTY WOMAN star and BRAD PITT in new film THE MEXICAN, claims movie makers are happy to pay her rate as Hollywood's leading female earner because her films always seem to break $50 million (£33 million) at the box office.

Verbinski says, "She doesn't do movies with alien creatures or action flicks that take place on Mars. She's a great actor who takes pieces where she can act." The director also claims his peers like to work with her because her name alone will draw people to the cinema. He adds, "Once a studio has Julia Roberts, they are not going to get any other actor who will get any more people in the seats. I got lucky with Brad Pitt." (KL/U/MCM)

Source: WENN