George Clooney honoured by Julia Roberts at award function

While honouring him here Saturday, the "Erin Brockovich" star cracked jokes about him. "I'm normally in my second REM cycle by now, so let's get this done," Roberts joked on stage, reports eonline.com.

George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Pics/Santa Banta

"George Clooney, or as my daughter calls him, ‘George Looney.' So, so honoured to be here tonight. And there are two obvious reasons why I was chosen to do this. One, Brad Pitt was out of town. Two, Matt Damon, he's in town but he was unavailable," she added.

The Hollywood stars have acted in movies like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Ocean's Twelve". u00a0"I consider George a friend. We have worked together in many capacities. We have acted together a few times. He's handsome, he's talented, he is an exemplary humanitarian and a gifted prankster," said Roberts.

Clooney also returned the compliments. "It has been such a pleasure to watch the woman you have become," he gushed. u00a0"Its' very hard for me to be just straight nice because she'll get me later. But just an amazing mother, an amazing wife and a great, great friend. It's really an honour to have her here."

Other stars who were honoured during the bash included Kathryn Bigelow with John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing; Sacha Baron Cohen won Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy; Benedict Cumberbatch got Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year; Idris Elba got Britannia Humanitarian Award; and Ben Kingsley got Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment.u00a0