Irish American actor Mickey Rourke has come to the defense of Transformers star (and fellow Irish American) Megan Fox, saying that the young star's acting skills receive undue criticism because she's beautiful.

Rourke, 57, who co-stars with Fox, 23, in new movie Passion Play, insists that she has more than enough acting chops.

“She doesn’t drink or do drugs," say Rourke "People say bad stuff about her and how she can’t act but they only say that because she’s beautiful,” he told the press this week. “She’s the most talented actress I’ve worked with. When she cries in a scene, I get emotional,” he added.