Madonna steals Sin City show

Actress Brittany Murphy wowed the crowd at the premiere of new film Sin City - but was almost upstaged by Madonna

Madonna made a surprise appearance at the Leicester Square screening, turning up hand-in-hand with director husband Guy Ritchie.

And her last minute arrival on the red carpet threatened to overshadow the film's stars including Murphy, Clive Owen and Mickey Rourke.

The A-list couple just fancied a night at the cinema, an insider said.

"Madonna and Guy were a late addition to the guest list - we only found out today that they wanted to come.

"I don't think they know any of the actors, they just wanted to see the film," the insider said.

Murphy had spent an hour signing autographs for fans outside the cinema and looked gorgeous in a scarlet dress by designer Luisa Beccaria.

But if she felt miffed at being upstaged by the pop superstar, she didn't show it.

"It's probably the second time I've ever been star-struck in my life. She's my idol," Murphy said.

"If I meet her at the party I will shyly and meekly shake her hand."
The 27-year-old beauty said she was overwhelmed by the fans' response to the film.

"This is my first British premiere and it's like nothing I've ever seen before," she said.

"The biggest premiere I've done before was 8 Mile in Los Angeles. When I arrived here I rang my mother from the car and said 'You won't believe this, it's like 8 Mile times 100'."

Based on the cult graphic novel by Frank Miller, Sin City is a dark and violent film set in a crime-invested metropolis.

Murphy stars opposite British actor Owen, who has been tipped as the next James Bond.

She said: "I've been a fan of Pierce Brosnan for years and years. But if Pierce doesn't play Bond I think Clive would do an outstandingly superb job.
"He's devastatingly gorgeous - and married."

Other cast members at the film included Jessica Alba and Michael Madsen, along with director Robert Rodriguez.