25 APRIL 2003
London's Leicester Square became the venue for a display of out-of-this-world glamour on Thursday when a galaxy of stars turned out for the premiere of X-Men 2.

The movie's femme fatales, Famke Jannsen, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Kelly Hu, sent waiting photographers into a frenzy of action as they posed together in stunning black dresses.

And their co-star Sir Ian McKellen made a contrasting, but equally memorable impression by arriving in a white tuxedo. The veteran British actor, who plays Magneto in the film, said his new flick boasted "the most glamorous cast ever assembled".

The openly gay actor went on to joke that he found the movie's hunky male actors rather more exciting than his female colleagues. "Can you imagine what it's like being with Hugh Jackman and James Marsden all day, two of the most glamorous men on screen? I also got to stand next to Halle Berry all day, but I didn't turn a hair."

Another legendary British thespian, Patrick Stewart, was also in attendance. The former Star Trek star plays Professor Xavier in the flick, and he insisted the new adventure is even better than its predecessor. "I always felt the first movie was an expensive extended trailer to introduce the X-Men and their world," he said. "This film swoops straight into the story and it's just terrific."

Other A-list guests at the glitzy screening included Minnie Driver, Sophie Anderton, Hugh Jackman and Vivienne Westwood.