Picture courtesy of PA

The crowd loved Tom Cruise when he spent 90 minutes signing autographs, posing for photographs and phoning fans' friends and relatives prior to last night's premiere of 'Minority Report.'

Around 4,000 people packed into London's Leicester Square to see the Hollywood superstar and his British co-star Samantha Morton as they arrived for the glitzy screening.

Cruise makes no secret of the fact that he enjoys meeting his fans and will not be rushed. The start of the film was delayed by 40 minutes as he worked his special magic on the crowd.

'Minority Report' opens in the UK on July 4th - American Independence Day.

Ben Chaplin was the star attraction at last night's premiere of 'Birthday Girl.'

Chaplin, who plays mild-mannered bank employee John Buckingham, joined director Jez Butterworth and a host of celebrities to launch the film at a brand new cinema in London's fashionable Islington.

Chaplin's co-star Nicole Kidman was unable to attend the event because of filming commitments but Ben was enjoying the attention of being 'birthday boy' for the night!

Audiences were finally able to judge for themselves if Halle Berry's performance was worthy of her Oscar accolade when 'Monster's Ball' opened across the UK and Ireland last Friday.

Although up against the World Cup and TV hit Big Brother, the film has opened to a successful weekend, entering at number six in the box office chart.

Set in the Deep South, the film centres on the relationship between Leticia (Berry), a poverty-stricken single mother and Hank (played by Billy Bob Thornton), a red-neck prison corrections officer.

US actress, Andie MacDowell was in London's West End last night for the premiere of her new movie 'Crush'.

MacDowell plays an American headmistress working in a small Cotswolds town who meets regularly with her two best friends, Janine (Imelda Staunton) and Molly (Anna Chancellor), to discuss who has the saddest life.

MacDowell and Chancellor, who both starred in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', and Staunton joined co-star Kenny Doughty and writer/director John McKay at the gala screening.

The film, which has been described as 'a comedy about three women behaving very badly', goes on theatrical release on June 7.

Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired North and South American distribution rights to the hugely successful British comedy 'Bend It Like Beckham'.

The film's director, Guirnda Chadha, is said to be over the moon with the film's success. “'Bend It Like Beckham' has now been sold the world over” said Chadha. “It is an honour to take on the role of cultural ambassador for Britain and show worldwide audiences what British Asian life is really like, although I doubt whether there are enough pages in my passport to visit each country”.

The crowd pleasing hit, starring Parminder K. Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Juliet Stevenson and Shaznay Lewis, has been phenomenally successful in the UK taking almost £10m at the box office since its opening on April 12th.

At yesterday's charity premiere of 'Thunderpants' a new world record was set for the most people to sit simultaneously on whoopee cushions.

The child stars of the film, newcomer Bruce Cook and Rupert Grint (internationally recognised as Ron Weasley from 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'), took part in the record attempt along with director Peter Hewitt.

The Odeon Lecicester Square also greeted other celebrities including Hugo Speer, Frances Ruffelle and the pop band allSTARS, who performed their new single from the film's soundtrack, 'Going All the Way'.

All proceeds from the West End event went to the NSPCC.

The film goes on general release on Friday 24th May.

Jodie Foster returns to the big screen this weekend, starring in David 'Fight Club' Fincher's dark, paranoid thriller, 'Panic Room'.

The film focuses on newly-divorced Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her young, asthmatic daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) who move into a New York house with a specially equipped security room. When three intruders, Burnham (Forest Whitaker), Raoul (Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (Jared Leto), stage a seamless late night break in, Meg and Sarah seek sanctuary in the panic room, not realising that the room itself is the burglars' target.

'Panic Room' goes on general release today.

'Ice Age' has become only the second film this year to pass the $100m mark in international box office takings.

The computer-animated comedy from 20th Century Fox has so far earned over $18m in the UK and has set box office records in countries as diverse as Austria and South Africa.

The film, which features the voices of Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo and Goran Visnjic, has grossed over $160m in North America bringing its worldwide total to $264.5m.

'The Scorpion King' has stormed its way to the top of the US movie box office chart. The spinoff from last year's hit, 'The Mummy Returns', took an incredible £25 million in its opening weekend.

In the UK the film shot straight to number 2 at the box office taking an excess of £1.5 million including preview days.

The action adventure, which stars wrestling superstar The Rock, is set around 3000BC and has the Scorpion King destined to become a Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. The film also stars Oscar nominee Michael Clarke Duncan, Steven Brand and Kelly Hu.

Gurinder Chadha's 'Bend It Like Beckham' kicked off to a spectacular start at the weekend. The film grossed £2 million at the UK box office, making it the seventh highest opening weekend ever for a British film.

'Bend It Like Beckham' shot to number one and earned over double the takings of the number two film. It topped comparable opening figures for 'Billy Elliot', 'East Is East' and 'The Full Monty.'

The film which tells the story of an eighteen-year-old girl who wants to be like her footballing hero, has had the seal of approval from David and Victoria Beckham.

Picture courtesy of Reuters

The crowds thronged into London's Leicester Square last night to see the stars of 'About A Boy', the hugely anticipated film adaptation of Nick Hornby's bestselling novel.

All eyes were on Hugh Grant as he signed autographs and posed for photographs with fans outside the Empire cinema.

Other stars from the film who attended the premiere included Victoria Smurfit, Toni Collette and 'the boy' himself, Nicholas Hoult.

The film's American directors, Paul and Chris Weitz, were there too along with author Nick Hornby and songwriter Badly Drawn Boy.

The man whose name features in the title may not have been there but that didn't prevent the world premiere of 'Bend It Like Beckham' from being a truly colourful affair.

The stars of the film including Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Juliet Stevenson and Shaznay Lewis turned out in force to support co-writer/co-producer/director Gurinder Chadha at her biggest film opening in London's West End.

Paul Bettany, Boy George and Atomic Kitten were among the other celebrities who flocked to the Odeon Leicester Square to launch the feelgood British comedy of 2002. David and Victoria Beckham sent their best wishes and apologies to Gurinder.

The grinning audience left the cinema to the pulsating beat of six Indian drummers in full costume.

Picture courtesy of Sky News

Britney Spears was greeted by thousands of screaming fans last night as she turned up for the premiere of her debut movie 'Crossroads' in London's West End.

The starlet arrived at the screening in a backless, halterneck, silver sequined dress, with her co-star Anson Mount.

In the film, Britney plays a teenager who takes a road trip to Los Angeles to find her mother who is played by Kim Cattrall ('Sex and the City').

Other celebrities at the Odeon Leicester Square included Rachel Stevens of S Club 7, Blue, Charlotte Church, Sugarbabes, Mis-Teeq, Liberty X, Richard Madeley and SMTV's Brian Dowling.

'A Beautiful Mind' and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' were the clear winners at last nights 74th Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, scooping four Oscars each.

'A Beautiful Mind' not only picked up the Best Director award for Ron Howard and Best Supporting Actress gong for Jennifer Connelly but also walked away with the evening's top accolade of Best Picture.

Oscar history was made as Halle Berry became the first ever black woman to receive a Best Actress award, for 'Monster's Ball', and Denzel Washington garnered the Best Actor Oscar for 'Training Day'. The last time a black actor won in this category was in 1963 when Sidney Poitier was honoured for 'Lilies of the Field'. Aptly, Poitier was at the ceremony to pick up an Honourary Award for his lifetime's work.

Baz Luhrmann's eccentric 'Moulin Rouge!' received two accolades including Best Costume Design for Catherine Martin while Ridley Scott's 'Black Hawk Down' also claimed two gold statuettes, including one for Best Sound.

Among the night's British triumphs were a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Jim Broadbent in 'Iris' and a Best Original Screenplay award for Julian Fellowes, who penned Robert Altman's emsemble drama 'Gosford Park'.

Perhaps the most bizarre audience members at the ceremony were Jimmy Neutron, his dog Goddard, Shrek the big green ogre and Donkey. The latter pair picked up the very first Best Animated Film Oscar for 'Shrek'.

The torrential rain failed to dampen the glittering atmosphere at last night's Orange British Academy Film Awards in the heart of London's cinemaland.

Film stars from both sides of the Atlantic shone as they swept along the rain-sodden red carpet to attend the prestigious ceremony at the Odeon Leicester Square.

The night's big winner was Peter Jackson's epic adventure 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' which picked up five awards including Best Film, Best Director and the Orange Film of the Year Award.

Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly carried off top acting honours for their performances in Ron Howard's 'A Beautiful Mind'. The other major acting accolades went to Dame Judi Dench for 'Iris' and Jim Broadbent for his larger-than-life portrayal of the Ringmaster in Baz Lurhmann's musical 'Moulin Rouge'.

Robert Altman's star-studded period piece 'Gosford Park' achieved the Best British Film of the Year award which must have delighted the evening's presenter, Stephen Fry, who appears in the film.

Among the other recipients of golden masks were 'Shrek' for Best Adapted Screenplay, 'The Man Who Wasn't There' for Best Cinematography and the Carl Foreman Award, for special achievement in a first feature, went to Joel Hopkins and Nicola Usbourne for the independent film 'Jump Tomorrow'.

Film star Richard E. Grant this morning announced this year's nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards at BAFTA's headquaters in London's Piccadilly.

The British actor was shocked and thrilled at the news that 'Gosford Park', in which he stars, has been nominated for a staggering 9 awards.

The nominations in the main categories are:

BEST FILM

SHREK - Aron Warner/John H Williams/Jeffery Katzenberg

THE ALEXANDER KORDA AWARD for the outstanding British Film of the Year

ME WITHOUT YOU - Finola Dwyer/Sandra Goldbacher

THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD for the most promising newcomer to British Film

RICHARD PARRY - Director/Co writer - South West 9

THE DAVID LEAN AWARD for achievement in Direction

MOULIN ROUGE! - Baz Luhrmann

BEST SCREENPLAY (Original)

THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS - Wes Anderson/Owen Wilson

BEST SCREENPLAY (Adapted)

SHREK - Ted Elliott/Terry Rossio/Joe Stillman/Roger S.H. Schulman

BEST PERFORMANCE by an ACTRESS in a LEADING ROLE

RENEE ZELLWEGER - Bridget Jones's Diary

BEST PERFORMANCE by an ACTOR in a LEADING ROLE

TOM WILKINSON - In the Bedroom

BEST PERFORMANCE by an ACTRESS in a SUPPORTING ROLE

KATE WINSLET- Iris

BEST PERFORMANCE by an ACTOR in a SUPPORTING ROLE

Ron Howard's 'A Beautiful Mind' was the clear overall winner at last night's Golden Globe Awards ceremony, in Los Angeles, scooping the Best Picture - Drama prize.

The film, which stars Russell Crowe, is based on the true life story of the Nobel Prize Winner John Nash. Crowe carried off the Best Actor in a Leading Role - Drama award while Jennifer Connelly won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role accolade.

Akiva Goldsman garnered the screenplay honour for the film which UK audiences will have a chance to see from 22nd February.

Baz Luhrmann's 'Moulin Rouge!' was a close contender picking up 3 awards including Best Musical/Comedy and Best Actress in a leading role - Musical/Comedy for Nicole Kidman.

Baz Lurhmann and Ron Howard lost out to Robert Altman who won the Best Director Golden Globe for his lavish, star-studded, period piece, 'Gosford Park' which opens across the UK next Friday.

Former 'EastEnders' star, Joe Absolom has been talking about his switch to the big screen

The 23-year-old actor whose character, Matthew Rose, became known as the 'Walford One' when he was wrongfully convicted of murder, stars in the British horror film 'Long Time Dead'.

Joe reckons that the film, directed by Marcus Adams, has the edge over American horror flicks like 'Scream' because there is a greater emphasis on the relationships between the central characters.