The cream of Hollywood came out to play this week as a roll-call of big names promoted their latest oeuvres on both sides of the pond. Kate Winslet flew the flag for Britain in New York as she and co-star Hugh Jackman made a rather unusual entrance to the screening of Flushed Away - made by Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman Animations.
Whooping with delight, the good sports slid down a huge inflatable toilet with gusto in honour of their animated film. In the flick Hugh voices a rich pet rat flushed down the loo by an intruder rodent played by former EastEnders star Shane Richie. Stranded in the sewers he encounters Kate's street-wise persona, who agrees to help him return to the surface.
The Little Children actress, who was looking patriotic in a Union Jack top, says she and her handsome Aussie co-star took on the parts for their children. "I think it's the reason why we both wanted to do it ultimately, because there is nothing else either of us have done that our kids can see for some time yet. It's an amazing feeling."
Hugh meanwhile has been keen to make it clear he has nothing in common with his upmarket ratty character. "The truth be told, I am the opposite," he explains. "I'm Australian. We pride ourselves in not being posh." In LA, meanwhile, Emma Thompson was having just as much fun without the help of inflatables as she puckered up with Will Ferrell and Dustin Hoffman at the premiere of their deadpan-loaded comedy Stranger Than Fiction.
Dustin made sure he captured the red carpet's buzzing atmosphere on his own camera while playing up for the professional lensmen by helping straighten the tie of co-star Will.
It wasn't just America getting the star treatment, however. Hollywood came to London for the capital's film festival as The Departed heart-throb Matt Damon jetted in to support best pal Ben Affleck at the screening of Hollywoodland.
Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, who stars as a private detective in the flick about Superman actor George Reeves, added extra glamour to the occasion when he showed up with his Spanish girlfriend, Snakes On A Plane beauty Elsa Pataky.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
