Julia Louis-Dreyfus praises co-star James Gandolfini

U.S. actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus says working with the late James Gandolfini on the relationship dramedy "Enough Said" was simply "a dream."

In writer-director Nicole Holofcener's film, Louis-Dreyfus plays a middle-age massage therapist who falls in love with her poet client's ex-husband [played by Gandolfini] and can't believe he is the same man her friend [played by Catherine Keener] is always complaining about.

Louis-Dreyfus spoke fondly about Gandolfini to reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival where their movie was screened this month.

"It was a dream," the actress said of working with "The Sopranos" star, who died of a heart attack during the summer at the age of 51.

"[Gandolfini] was one of the great American actors," Louis-Dreyfus declared. "I think that's not an exaggeration to say in any way. I had a couple of moments working with him where I will admit I thought, 'I can't believe I'm looking into this face.' Because what a face. But he was incredibly hard-working; very, very self-effacing. A lot of certain insecurities I found particularly endearing and sort of perfect for the part. It was interesting because we didn't know each other particularly well to begin with, but we liked each other a lot from the get-go. As we were working on things ... it was fun. We communicated more and more frankly as the couple in the movie gets to know each other more and more. So, by the time we got towards the end of the movie when there is the [emotional] scene in the kitchen and so on, we talked a lot about the layers that went into that and it was really a very exciting, creative journey to take with him and I will never forget him."

"Enough Said" is in theaters now.