HOLLYWOOD has rallied behind victims of the Victorian bushfires, with a star-studded soccer fundraiser in Los Angeles.

Professional soccer players and celebrities including Mentalist pin-up Simon Baker and House star Jesse Spencer played in the charity match, which was organised by Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia.

LaPaglia said the plight of Victorians affected by the devastating fires had inspired him to call on his friends and co-ordinate the fundraiser through his Californian soccer club Hollywood United.

“When we started to see all of the images coming through from the Victorian fires, I just thought this is what were here for, this is what we do,” he said.

“It was terrible to see entire towns wiped out and to see images of cars burnt to a crisp trying to get out just horrifying images.

“Without hesitation, people – world-class soccer players and celebrities not just from Australia but from America and Britain too – put up their hands to use their profile to help.”

LaPaglia’s actor wife Gia Carides and his Without a Trace co-star Poppy Montgomery were among the crowd of hundreds cheering the game, which was held in the seaside celebrity enclave of Pacific Palisades.

New Zealand-raised actress Anna Paquin came straight from the set of her hit television series True Blood to cheer on her British boyfriend Stephen Moyer, who plays her lover on the award-winning vampire drama.

Moyer, 37, revealed last week that he and Paquin, 26, were in a relationship after months of secretly dating.

British former soccer hardman turned film star Vinnie Jones, who played in the match, said his own experience of fires coming close to his home in Malibu had made him determined to assist the cause.

“Anthony rang me and said weve got to raise some money for these people and I said sure, Ill see you there,” Jones said.

“The fires were so sad heart-wrenching.

“This was the least we could do get people involved and raise awareness.”

Also hitting the field to join the action were Sydney actress Gracie Otto, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, Melbourne rock star Toby Rand, Love My Way star Damon Herriman and The Bachelor reality television show host Chris Harrison.

British billionaire Richard Branson, whose Virgin empire has already donated more than $500,000 to the bushfire appeal, attended the game and said he and his staff on new international airline V-Australia were committed to raising more money to help rebuild communities destroyed in the fires.

“Australia has been a second home for years and these particular fires have been absolutely devastating; they’ve ruined lots of peoples lives,” he said.

“Virgin is in a position where we can do something about it, and a lot of people just can’t afford to help at the moment so its good to mix business with charity and pleasure.”

source: news.com.au