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Diamond star DiCaprio sends fans into frenzy
By This is London 24.01.07
Frenzy: Leonardo DiCaprio spent 45 minutes meeting fans who had waited in the freezing cold
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Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio sent the crowds into a frenzy at the UK premiere of his new film.
Hundreds lined up to see him in London last night, along with glamorous Blood Diamond co-star Jennifer Connelly.
US actress Connelly brought along her British husband Da Vinci Code star Paul Bettany while DiCaprio, arrived without his girlfriend on his arm.
The Titanic star spent 45 minutes meeting the crowds who lined up to see him in the freezing cold.
He was in buoyant spirits after Blood Diamond, set in Sierra Leone's diamond-fuelled civil war, bagged five Oscar nominations.
The film touches on the exploitation of Africa by the diamond industry and DiCaprio, 32, plays a mercenary on the hunt for a rare pink gemstone in the thriller.
Wearing a dark pin-stripped suit, the actor said of the Oscar nominations - which includes best actor for DiCaprio: "We've kind of already celebrated. We've toasted each other and gave each other a group hug."
He said of the fans who gathered to see him: "It's pretty amazing for them to stand out there for 10 minutes let alone hours but it's a warm welcome."
DiCaprio added about the film, which was shot in Mozambique: "It's not something that comes out of the Hollywood system very often. I jumped at the opportunity.
"Shooting in Africa, being there, you can't help but be transformed on some level. When going there you see that the western world can make a difference."
Connelly wearing a black ruffled Lanvin shirt/dress over leggings said: "It's very chilly out there.
"I'm just shaking so much, but I love coming here for any reason," she added. "The nominations are well deserved."
Her husband Bettany said: "I'm here to be supportive, that's the job."
The film director and producer Edward Zwick said of the crowds' response to DiCaprio: "It sounds as though the Beatles have just arrived."
Sir David Frost was among the stars who braved the freezing temperatures for the UK premiere.
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Reader views (1)
Ouch! This is not a film for the faint hearted... the brutality and violence of the scenes are incredibly difficult to endure because we know of course that they are occuring daily in countries at war... in spite of all the atrocities, you never feel manipulated by the director but just immersed in a hell that is too familiar to many. This is an impressive, efficient film with extremely good acting from all, if Di Caprio is fantastic, so are his fellow actors. The message of course is clear but who is to say that we don't need such strong, unequivocal punch in the face if things are to change?
- Josephine Thalbach, London
