25 APRIL 2002
The stars turned out for the opening of Woody Allen's new film in New York Tuesday night, with his leading ladies full of praise for the director/actor who once again takes the lead role in his own production.

In the new film – which opens Stateside on May 3 and is scheduled to reach European cinemas in the autumn – Woody, 66, plays a director who goes psychosomatically blind just before beginning a film his ex-wife is producing.

Playing the ex is the now eight months' pregnant actress Tea Leoni, 36, who was looking fantastic in four-inch heels and a Liz Lange dress she claimed she’d wear “even if I wasn’t pregnant”. Of her experience working on the set with one of the Big Apple’s greatest sons, the actress, who's married to David Duchovny, said: “He’s a great romantic, I found it an easy role to play.”

Tiffani Thiesen, who plays a buxom actress trying to seduce Woody's character, turned out in a black strapless Emporio Armani dress and Giorgio Armani stilettos – plus a sparkling Tiffany’s rock from her new fiancé, actor Richard Ruccolo.

“Being asked to be in the film was the greatest compliment I’ve ever received,” said Tiffani, who is probably best known for her catty role as Valerie in Beverly Hills 90210. “Well, besides when Richard popped the question.” The couple plan to wed in the autumn.

Will & Grace star Debra Messing, who plays Woody’s girlfriend, opted for an elegant Dolce & Gabbana ruffle coat cinched in at the waist. She too paid tribute to Woody, saying: “His films were part of my childhood. He’s helped define for me what I think funny is and working with him has fulfilled a lofty dream of mine.” She added: “And I got to kiss him, which I’m proud to say.”

The man himself arrived dressed in sweater and corduroys, with wife Soon-Yi on his arm. After all the praise he received from his co-stars, "You’d think I was a cross between Orson Welles and Clark Gable," he quipped.

Also attending the premiere were George Hamilton, Treat Williams, Neve Campbell, Barbara Walters and Keith Richards.