Hollywood’s biggest names, from Jack Nicholson to Catherine Zeta-Jones, flocked to Cannes for the kick of the city's annual film festival on Wednesday. Among the bevy of beauties to attend the events of the first few days were former Wonderbra model Adriana Karembeu - who was accompanied by her footballer husband Christian - Jerry Hall, Sharon Stone and Laetitia Casta.
Also garnering his share of attention was Woody Allen, who follows this year's Oscar debut with his first trip to Cannes.
The bespectacled director was in the city to launch his latest work, Hollywood Ending, which officially opened the festival. The director, who brought along his beautiful co-stars Tiffani Thiessen and Debra Messing, demonstrated his wry sense of humour, telling the first night audience: “The French people think I am an intellectual because I wear these glasses and they think I am an artist because my films lose money all the time.”
Casino star Sharon Stone, who got her start in a Woody Allen film, was also on hand, making one of her first public appearances since a brain haemorrhage almost cost the actress her life. The Tinseltown icon, a member of the film festival’s Grand Jury, hasn’t been on screen for nearly two years, but is now considering what projects she might take on next. “When I come back, I just know that I’m going to be very protective of myself… If nothing else, being away has taught me that,” she says.
The Basic Instinct actress isn’t the only Hollywood celebrity who’ll get the flashbulbs popping at this year’s event – fans will also be keeping an eye out for 007 Pierce Brosnan, who will be jetting in for a weekend party, and Star Wars director George Lucas, who is expected to arrive on Thursday. Later in the 12-day festival, Cameron Diaz and Leo DiCaprio will accompany Martin Scorsese to a 20-minute preview of their upcoming flick, Gangs Of New York.
The festival runs through May 26.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
