Fans filled London's Leicester Square Monday night to get a glimpse of the stars as Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor arrived at the Odeon cinema for the UK premiere of their critically acclaimed film Moulin Rouge.
The handsome pair chatted easily with members of the enthusiastic crowd and signed autographs, but they weren't the only draw: Prince Charles, Kylie Minogue and actor Jim Broadbent were also all on hand for the debut of the Baz Luhrmann film, rounding out a bevy of celebrities which included everyone from Planet Of The Apes star Helena Bonham Carter to Big Brother 2 winner Brian Dowling.
Fifteen dancers greeted the Prince of Wales outside the Leicester Square Odeon. “The girls have been very excited about performing for Prince Charles,” said troupe manager Janet Pharaoh. Apparently the feeling was mutual. “Are you going to do the cancan on stage?” Charles asked cheerily before entering the charity screening, which will benefit the Prince’s Trust.
And while the girls entertained at the theatre, the truly raucous fun would come at the post-screening bash. A-list guests made their way to the “One Night Of Sin” gala in East London’s Tobacco Dock where the backdrop was magically transformed into a 19th-century Parisian nightclub. Antique carousel horses and endless lush velvet set the mood as Sleepy Hollow actress Christina Ricci, Trainspotting’s Jonny Lee Miller and pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor were served by waitresses in risque knickers.
Nicole, fresh from the Venice Film Festival where her acclaimed thriller The Others is wowing attendees, took a minute out from the celebrating on Monday to talk about the making of Moulin Rouge. “It was so much fun,” said the antipodean beauty, dressed in a stunning Jean-Paul Gaultier black dress. “It was one of those films you make that you are seriously sad to finish. When will I ever get to do a musical again?” Judging by the reaction to her sultry singing, whenever she wants.
The flame-haired actress has just recorded a duet with pop superstar Robbie Williams and has been drawing rave reviews for her take on Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend which features in the dazzling film. And while Nicole aims to return to the London stage, where she previously starred in the Sam Mendes directed sizzler The Blue Room, a musical isn’t on the cards.
“Sam Mendes and I have talked about doing another play at the Donmar,” says the 34-year-old actress. However, she remains mum on the details. “I’m not allowed to say until we work it all out – Sam would kill me!” Nicole has just wrapped The Hours with director Stephen Daldry and will next team up with Danish director Lars von Trier for his next project.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
