(PEOPLE.com) -- Jesse James may be a tough guy who builds motorcycles and performs death-defying stunts, but he's not above the pomp of the Oscars -- or being a plus-1 to the night's most celebrated actress, his wife Sandra Bullock.
"It's awesome," he told PEOPLE of being her date as they made their way into the Governor's Ball at the Hollywood & Highland Grand Ballroom after the Oscar ceremony Sunday.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support my wife and her work. She does it all the time for me. She goes to Mexico, to the desert, to the hospital -- a lot -- to support me and my work. The least I can do is put on a suit and support her."
James may be more comfortable in his garage than on the red carpet, but he was bursting with pride as he checked out his wife and her shimmering, gold-beaded Marchesa gown.
"She's beautiful. She's amazing. She takes my breath away," James said. "Sometimes I look at her and I do, I just lose my breath."
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