Who knew that veteran actresses Sharon Stone and Melanie Griffith were friends?

Well everyone does after the pair enjoyed a very public girly day together out in Hollywood with the paparazzi in tow.

The pair of 50-year-old actresses outed their undercover friendship in a high-profile day out in Hollywood.

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Just good friends: Sharon Stone stepped out with showbiz pal Melanie Griffiths for lunch at the Ivy and shopping in Hollywood yesterday

When paps attack: Sharon and Melanie caused a bit of a Britney Spears style stir as they hung out together in Hollywood

Onlookers were left to ponder the exact purpose of their trip. Were they helping to promote the stores they visited - or do they feel they've both been out of the spotlight for too long.

Either way, they created some excitement as they both exited a store on trendy Robertson, with both wearing huge sunglasses.

A security guard laden with their shopping bags was forced to help them through the melee.

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Ladies who lunch: Melanie and Sharon pore over the menu at the Ivy where they lunched before shopping

Earlier the two actresses both lunched at The Ivy, before shopping at Les Habitudes in Beverly Hills.

Sharon, who celebrated her 50th birthday in March looked youthful in a canary yellow leather biker jacket, sequin vest and jeans, and huge visor like sunglasses.

While Griffith also wore very tight jeans, but her beads and bouffant hair made her look rather mumsy.

They tried on a number of clothes, and clearly Sharon was keen to assist Melanie in choosing some new items.

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Overloaded: Sharon and Melanie get help to carry their haul to the actresses Bentley car

Shopping buddies: Sharon shows off her basic instinct for style as she gives Melanie's gown the once over

Sharon, who has three children, Roan, 7, Laird, 2, and Quinn, 1, is preparing to return to screens in the action drama Streets of Blood.

She stars alongside Val Kilmer, 50 Cent, Dylan McDermott and Brian Presley for the film which is about police officers in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

She's also just finished filming comedy movie Five Dollars A Day, while comedy My Own Love Song and historical drama Dirty Tricks - in which she'll star opposite Brad Pitt - are both in the pipeline for the coming year.

Meanwhile 50-year-old mother of three Melanie, is married to actor Antonia Banderas, 47.

And while her acting career has come to something of a standstill, he is in pre-production for his third outing as the charismatic Puss In Boots in the fourth Shrek movie, as well preparing for roles in Sin City 2, and Memoirs of Hadrian.

Youthful: Sharon celebrated her 50th birthday in March, but still looks youthful in a canary yellow biker jacket and jeans

Suited and booted: The veteran actresses pore over a number of tough-looking walking boots