Oscar hopeful Julie Christie has secretly married at a private ceremony in India, it was reported today.

The 66-year-old, who was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar last week, has previously shunned marriage, publicly declaring that it did not fit with her beliefs.

Her brother, Clive Christie, a retired university lecturer, confirmed to The Daily Mail that she had married her long-term partner, journalist Duncan Campbell.

He said the actress’s family were not present at the nuptials: "We didn't have any involvement."

Although Christie has been in a relationship with Campbell for 28 years, she has always insisted that she did not believe in marriage.

"I don't see any reason for getting married unless you're religious, which I'm not."

Christie, will find out if she has beaten Marion Cotillard, Laura Linney, and Ellen Page to the Best Actress Oscar on February 24.

She is nominated for her performance as an Alzheimer's sufferer in Away from Her.

On Sunday she won a Screen Actors’ Guild award for the role. Known for her left-wing political views, Christie made the night's only mention of the writer's strike, currently causing chaos in the America film industry.

As she accepted her award, she said: "It's lovely to receive an award from your own union, especially at a time when we're being so forcefully reminded how important unions are."

Despite starring in some of the 1960s biggest movies, including Dr Zhivago, Christie has always avoided the limelight, recently describing fame as 'like always having chewing gum stuck in your hair".

She divides her time between a Welsh farmhouse and a flat in east London.

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