NICOLAS CAGE and CHER

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

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."

Source: WENN