Halle premiere nearly lost in the fire

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Radiant: Halle Berry arrives at the premiere

Real-life drama: smoke rises above streets near Leicester Square

Halle Berry's new film is called Things We Lost In The Fire - and as the Oscar-winning actress took to the red carpet in Leicester Square a real-life blaze jeopardised its British premiere.

Flames from a restaurant kitchen forced emergency services to cordon off part of the square and reminded Berry that her own home in California is at risk.

The 41-year-old star, who is expecting a baby with boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, said: "I have a house in Malibu, so I could be affected by the fires. I hope it's going to be OK."

Fire crews quickly put out the restaurant blaze and the premiere went ahead with a radiant Berry showing off her bump to photographers and signing autographs for half an hour.

Dressed in a floor-length, low-cut, backless, purple Versace gown, the actress braved the October chill for the gala screening.

Asked about how it felt to be pregnant, she said it was "fantastic" but added that she did not yet know whether the baby was a boy or a girl.

In the film, Berry plays a grief-stricken widow who invites her late husband's best friend, played by Benicio Del Toro, to move into her home.

The actress said: "I knew from playing a mother in this movie and having two adorable smart children around me all the time that I was meant to be a mother.

"It's no mystery that right after we finished the movie it manifested itself in my life because I think I subconsciously knew 'Yes, I can do this. I'm really, really ready.'"

 

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