French actress Juliette Binoche had her 1996 Best Supporting Actress Oscar touched up by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after the gold plated statuette started peeling off, leaving it "all grey".

"The English Patient" star was saddened when she saw the statuette peeling off as her young son played with it, but she was told that a perk of winning was being able to get the trophy repaired for free, reported the Internet Media Database.

"When I first brought it home I wanted to share my award, so I let my three-year-old son play with it. After a few days it started peeling until it was all naked and there was no gold left. The Oscar was all grey," Binoche said.

"It made me a little sad, but I couldn't stop smiling and thinking about how it is an illusion. Though it was kindly replaced by the Academy, it made me realise the real reward is what you keep inside you."