George Clooney was greeted by a huge crowd of adoring Londoners when he arrived at the UK premiere of Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind on Monday. The 42-year-old star took some time to talk to fans, who had waited for hours in a chilly Piccadilly Circus, before joining other celebrities for the screening.
The film, which is George's directorial debut, has won great acclaim, confounding critics who had branded George "just another pretty face". It follows the story of US game show host Chuck Barris, who claims to have worked as a CIA assassin when he wasn't too busy with light entertainment.
Asked whether such an outlandish tale could really be true, George remained circumspect. "I've asked Chuck about the specifics of the story and he would look at me in the eyes and not say anything," he said. "I believe it is Chuck's story. I believe it was important for him to tell it and fun for us because the story was so wild."
He was joined at the screening by Tom Jones and the writer Mariella Frostrup. Also present was the film's star Sam Rockwell, who had just picked up the best actor gong at the Berlin Film Festival for his portrayal of the legendary presenter. In making the film, Sam enjoyed the help of an impressive supporting cast, which included Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore and, of course, George himself.