Smiling Cameron Diaz makes emotional return to the red carpet in a minidress (but her co-star's is even shorter)

Cameron, 35, looked stunning in the body-con, bow-front, dress which revealed her enviably long pins as she posed alongside co-star Ashton Kutcher at the premiere of new film What Happens In Vegas.

But the battle of the hemlines really began when she was joined on the red carpet at LA's Mann Theatre by her female co-star, Lake Bell, 29, who revealed her enviably long legs in an even shorter dress.

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Brunette actress Lake took to the red carpet in a gold sequinned minidress which was several inches higher than the red frock worn by her co-star, revealing her lengthy pins and a smile to rival Diaz'.

But the two couldn't be separated in the style stakes, and both looked stunning as they posed alongside Kutcher, the husband of actress Demi Moore.

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It was Cameron's first public appearance since the sudden death of her Cuban-American father.

Emilio died from pneumonia earlier this month. He had been diagnosed with flu several weeks earlier. Cameron, who was said to be devastated by his death, paid tribute to the oil company foreman at an informal beachside service.

In an interview completed days before her father's death she revealed she had tired of LA and is planning a move to New York where she can "walk down the street like everyone else" and get away from the paparazzi.

She told US fashion bible W magazine: "I'm done with L.A. Those guys [the paparazzi], you can't get away from them.

"Here [New York], I can walk down the street like everybody else. Not everybody is there to be rich and famous or attach themselves to rich and famous people.

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"You can walk down the street and end up in a gallery or some wonderful ethnic-food restaurant, or you can stop in a shop that sells, I don't know, staplers from all over the world! You don't get that in L.A. - that kind of, I don't know, specialty."

Cameron announced plans to take time out after finishing shooting on new movie, My Sister's Keeper wraps, an adaptation of British writer Jodi Picoult's novel.

She told W: "I envision a full year off, just living life and having fun. It's the best thing. I am in love with love and I am in love with life.

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"This year I just sort of decided, you know, there are a lot of things that I've been wanting to do and I'm going to do them."

She also revealed that she never planned to be a movie star. And that she actually wanted to be a zoologist.

She added: "But that's pretty much what I do now anyway.

I thought I'd be on the plains of Africa watching lions, but instead I'm in Hollywood watching train wrecks.

"I'm just kidding."

What Happens In Vegas is released 9 May 2008 in the UK