Washington, Mar 18 : Nicolas Cage says that he is indebted to Cher for helping him become a Hollywood star.

The `City Of Angels' star has said that he is thankful to the singer-cum-actress because she fought to land him a role alongside her in the Oscar-winning movie `Moonstruck'.

Studio bosses were not very keen on casting the then-23-year-old Cage as Cher''''s love interest in the film.

But it was the `Believe' singer who dug her heels in, and landed him the part of New York baker Ronny Cammareri.

The movie won Cher a Best Actress Oscar, and made Cage an overnight sensation in Hollywood and the actor is eternally grateful.

"She really was a champion for me. At a time when people didn''''t see me as a romantic actor, she fought for me," Contactmusic quoted Cage as saying. (ANI)