Rita Wilson paid tribute to “love of my life” Tom Hanks as she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
Singer and actress Wilson, 62, has been married to Oscar-winner Hanks, also 62, for more than 20 years and they now have their names set in concrete just yards apart on the famous Los Angeles landmark.
Wilson, known for appearing in films such as Sleepless In Seattle, Jingle All The Way and Runaway Bride, became star number 2,659.
At the ceremony at 6270 Hollywood Boulevard on Friday, the actress, a native of Tinsel Town, said she was grateful for all it had given her.
She said: “This town has given me and my family so much, this town, my home, has allowed me to do what i love for a living, act, sing, produce movies.
“This town has allowed me to pursue my dreams in my own backyard. It has led me to the love of my life, Tom Hanks, and has brought me the blessings of our children.”
She and Hanks have two children together, Chet and Truman, while she is also step-mother to Hanks’ children from a previous relationship, Colin and Elizabeth.
They also have two grandchildren. Wilson added: “To anyone fantasising of coming to Hollywood to what they love to do, know that it is a place where dreams do come true, even unimaginable ones.
“Dreams like having your name embedded into the glittering concrete of this iconic boulevard, and to have this celestial tribute be embedded next to my husband’s, an artists who has for years has inspired people, means something to me and my family.”
Hanks told the crowd his wife was born in bred in Hollywood, going to school and starting her career a stone’s throw from where her star was placed in the ground.
He praised her work as a producer on films including My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Abba musical Mamma Mia!, both of which she played an instrumental role in bringing to the big screen.
Hanks said: “Rita Wilson knows what she is doing. Her instincts are wicked sharp.”
He added she had “pitch perfect tastes” that are “the equal of her formidable talents”.
Wilson jokingly interjected, “well, I chose you”.
In 2015, Wilson was revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
Both her and Hanks have since helped raise millions of pounds for cancer charities. Earlier, Julia Roberts, a close friend of the couple, described Wilson as “one in a million”.
She said: “She (Wilson) has battled, as many have, to be heard to be seen and, as a breast cancer survivor, to be healthy.
“She is her true self and I could tell lots of stories and make many jokes but all of that cleverness falls away for the chance to just express how utterly I love and admire you.”
