Stars shine for monster premiere

The premiere of the epic movie King Kong roared into town tonight.

English born Naomi Watts, who played the heroine Ann Darrow was among the stars who attended the glittering event in London’s Leicester Square.

Peter Jackson, the director of the big ace movie, who has slimmed down to a shadow of his former self, said making a new version of his dream film had been hard work.

The exhausted looking Lord of the Rings director, after promoting his movie in New York to Berlin and then London added: “I’m relieved it’s all over. The crowds here are great, this is such a great city”.

But he said making the film, which inspired him to become a director when he watched it in his childhood had been “a dream”.

Jerry Hall’s arrival with her two daughters model Elizabeth and Georgia May provided the night’s glamour highlight.

Naomi Watts, who was wearing a midnight blue Christian Lacroix dress, said: “I met Fay Wray (the original 1933 King Kong heroine) before doing the film and it really moved me so she said she approved of me in the part”.

The blonde actress, who although born in England, grew up in Australia and is thought to have attended tonight’s event with some of her family said: “Unfortunately I’m only going to be here for about six seconds so I’m not going to have much time for a holiday, it’s freezing”.

Jamie Bell, 19, who went back to school after his Billy Elliot success and in recent years re-launched his film career said: “Playing the ship’s lookout Jimmy has been brilliant.

“It was an amazing experience.

“Peter cared about these characters so much, it was a fantastic thing, and we were all part of one family”.

Andy Serkis, who brought Gollum to the screen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, doubled for the computerised Kong.

The British star said of the two roles: “I loved them both. Over the last 4-5 years I’ve become particularly attached to Gollum because he’s so devious and schizophrenic and represents a part of my personality.

“Kong is more honest and represents another part of my personality. But I don’t want to be typecast”.

Adrien Brody, who also stars in the film said: “This has been a personal dream of Peter’s and its amazing that he fulfilled it”.

Oscar winning director Jackson was given complete creative control of his new $200m film, which is reported to have gone another $28m over budget.

Fans flocked to tonight’s premiere, at the Odeon, Leicester Square, but unlike the New York event there was no giant gorilla on display.