Stars attend Lord of the Rings UK premiere

Liv Tyler topped the guest list at the UK premiere of the latest Lord of the Rings movie.

The elfin actress was stunned by her reception as fans chanted her name in London's Leicester Square.

"That's the most people I've ever heard screaming my name in my life - I can't take it all in," said the US star.

Cate Blanchett, another elf princess called Galadriel, dazzled in a white Versace knee-length dress and matching jacket as she made her late entrance for the crowd of 4,000.

The Aussie star, who now lives in the UK, had not seen the movie beforehand. She makes only the briefest of appearances: "I think it's about 60 seconds actually.

"I've seen absolutely nothing so I am really excited. It's a surreal dream. It's an historic film and it's never going to happen like this again. I think the director Peter Jackson is a genius."

Other stars of the movie included Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, who play the diminutive Pippin and Merry.

Other guests at the premiere included Emma Noble, who wore a black and white gown, Neil Morrissey, Richard Madeley, and EastEnders star Kacey Ainsworth, who plays Albert Square's Little Mo.

The film will be released nationwide on December 18 and is set to become one of the biggest box office hits, like its predecessor.