As the beautiful elf Arwen in The Lord of the Rings, Liv Tyler was the epitomy of elegance.

However the actress looked anything but demure when she arrived in New York yesterday for an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman .

The usually radiant actress, who split from her husband Royston Langdon earlier this month, was rather heavy handed in her attempt to put forward her best sexy and single look.

From Elf to Vamp: Liv's new burlesque style made her look more drag queen than elf elegant

Her thick foundation, dark smoky eyes and lashings of red lipstick left her looking more like a drag queen than red carpet darling as waved to fans outside of the studio for an appearance on the chat show.

And her black frock, complete with lace inset, did little to soften her already harsh look.

The Lord of the Rings star had fuelled speculation the relationship was on the rocks by turning up to at New York's Costume Institute Gala on Sunday night without her wedding ring.

Gothic: Liv black dress and red lipstick did nothing to soften her harsh look

According to her father, Aerosmith frontman Steve Tyler, she is  coping well with the separation.

The former coupled wed in a small ceremony in the Caribbean in 2003 and welcomed their son Milo the following year.

He told Us Magazine : "Liv is doing great."

The former couple wed in a small ceremony in the Caribbean in March 2003. Their son Milo was born in December 2004.

Split: Liv Tyler and her husband Royston Langdon, pictured here with son Milo last year, have ended their marriage