Oprah's support for Julia

Showbiz

13:30 26 April 2006

Julia Roberts has had a sympathy visit from Oprah Winfrey, after critics panned her Broadway debut.

The 'Pretty Woman' star's performance in 'Three Days Of Rain' has been savaged - but the poor reviews have not stopped tickets changing hands for hundreds of dollars each.

Oprah apparently turned up at Roberts' New York apartment on Thursday night (20.04.06) to give her moral support.

A source close to the star described the visit to America's New York Post newspaper as a "pity party".

Roberts recently revealed she was overjoyed when she got her part in the play as she'd wanted to perform on Broadway since she was three.

She said: "I grew up with the smell of greasepaint on me. My dad used to take me to plays all the time. We came to New York when I was seven to see'Hair'.

"I also have vivid memories of seeing Yul Brynner do 'The King And I' in Atlanta."

The star admits to being nervous about having what it takes to succeed on the stage, after watching friend Cherry Jones tread the boards last year.

Roberts revealed: "I went backstage after seeing her performance, and she was just sweet, wonderful Cherry. How she transformed herself onstage was inconceivable to me."

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