In “Cast Away - Verschollen”, a volleyball becomes a close friend for Tom Hanks on a lonely island - the prop has now been auctioned for almost 270,000 euros.

In the film, the main actor talks to "Wilson", as the ball is named after the manufacturer, over and over again during his long stay in order to keep his mind clear.

Hanks received a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role.

It was also nominated for an Oscar, which at the time went to "Gladiator" Russell Crowe.

The ball was deliberately given a dirty look, and it was often in the water during filming, the auction house Prop Store announced.

"Wilson" has a "dark brown-red" face "on the front," it said in the description, as the BBC reported on Thursday.

"The top is torn open and a number of tobacco stems are inserted to recreate the look of hair."

In total, more than 1100 film props came under the hammer at Prop House.

The suit that Will Ferrell wore in "Buddy - The Christmas Elf" brought in the equivalent of 205,000 euros, almost ten times as much as expected.