Madge cast in fame Square

The diminutive singer's tiny hands had been cast in bronze to become the inaugural star at Wembley's new Square of Fame.

Cast makers flew out to New York while Madonna was on the US-leg of her acclaimed Confessions Tour to prepare for the plaque.

They used Alginate, an organic moulding material used by dentists to make casts of teeth, to create the original imprint.

They then brought the impressions - created while the star was in her dressing room preparing to perform at Madison Square Gardens - back to the UK to turn into a bronze plaque.

Today, the Material Girl - whose first London show opens at Wembley tonight - took 15 minutes out of rehearsal time to unveil the cast and the Square of Fame.

Organisers hope it will become the British equivalent of Hollywood's famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

The singer's hands have regularly attracted attention as the only part of her anatomy which betrays her age.

But today the 47-year-old, wearing sunglasses, a white tracksuit and matching trainers, was delighted to receive a cast of her hands to take home with her.

After kneeling on a cushion to pose with the casts she said: "They're great, it's a great honour. I did it because it makes me feel like an honorary Brit."

Asked which name she would like to see join her on the Square of Fame she said: "Tony Blair and other world leaders."

Asked what she would do with the replica of her hands, the star - who kicked off her UK-leg of her tour in Cardiff at the weekend - said she would "put it up somewhere, but not on my mantelpiece."

Just before stepping back into the arena to resume rehearsals she added: "No matter how many concerts you do, you still have to do rehearsals."

Organisers hope to get Kylie Minogue and George Michael, who are both set to perform at Wembley in the coming months, to also lend their hands to the Square of Fame.

Madonna added: "I'm very excited about my up-coming Wembley show and am honoured to be the first performer to unveil a plaque at the Square of Fame. I look forward to seeing other artists adding their handprints alongside mine."

Nick Shattock, deputy chief executive of Wembley Arena owners Quintain Estates, said: "Wembley is a venue for legends and we wanted to create a Hollywood-style feature to honour our most successful performers.

"Madonna is officially the greatest female star in the world and we are delighted that she is the first of what will only be a few major names to be celebrated in the Square of Fame."

Wembley Arena reopened in April following a £35 million refurbishment programme.