Standing space was at a premium with over 2,000 fans waiting outside to cheer the film stars as they walked along the red carpet outside the Savoy Cinema, Dublin last night.
Over 1,200 guests arrived for the Irish premiere of the new Oliver Stone film, Alexander, a charity night in aid of the Cancer Fund at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.
There were huge cheers of delight as actors Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie drew close to the barriers. The two actors shook hands, signed autographs and chatted to the lucky few nearest them.
Then, joining Stone, they spoke about the merits of the film and the negative publicity it has already received in the US. "They don't care about Alexander in America," said Stone. "They don't respect him. They are looking at it through ignorant 21st century eyes and saying he's a monster."
Farrell, who plays the heroic Alexander in the film's title role, was in philosophical mood. "It's the world we live in now - it's very instant gratification," he said. Jolie, in a Versace cream coat over a gold dress, said she wasn't surprised at the American reaction. "They are not as mature about sex. They tend to go with a headline and they are not interested in history."
To play the character of Olympias, Alexander's mother, she said: "I had to think of dark things, like your child dying." Once she started learning about her character, who was raped and taken from her home, "she started to make sense to me" and playing her "wasn't that hard".
The youngest actor to arrive was Jesse Kamm, an eight-year old from Carrickmines, Co Dublin. He plays young Alexander. His favourite part in the film was "jumping into the snakes", he said. Was he afraid? "I kind of forget because it was a long time ago." Val Kilmer, who plays Alexander's father, Philip, was another Holywood face who drew cheers from the waiting public.
Martin Linnane, an actor from Co Roscommon, said Stone reminded him of the old style "big man on a building site . . . He knew what he wanted". Other stars at the premiere included Samantha Mumba and Belfast actor Ian Beattie.