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Sean Connery makes his mark at London Premiere

30 SEPTEMBER 2003

Sir Sean Connery made a long-awaited return to London's Leicester Square on Monday, when he turned out for the premiere of The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

The inimitable Scotsman has not attended a West End premiere for over 10 years, so his appearance was quite an occasion. And the actor was sure to make his mark on the city, by leaving his handprints in plaster. The moulds will be used to make bronze casts of his hands, which will sit alongside those of Tom Cruise, Charlton Heston, Bruce Willis and Pierce Brosnan outside the Odeon cinema.

Sean was looking characteristically cool at the screening, though he admitted feeling taken aback by the 2,000-strong crowd of fans who turned out to see him. "It's fantastic out there, but I wasn't prepared for such an onslaught," said the 73-year-old. "They were just so enthusiastic."

In the action adventure, a gang of literary heroes join forces to fight the evil madman "the Fantom". Sean plays Alain Quatermain, who must stop the crazed villain with a little help from Captain Nemo, Dorian Gray and the Invisible Man.

He was joined at the screening by his co-star Stuart Townsend, along with Cold Feet star John Thomson and Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Anthony Head.

The 007 star shows he's not afraid of getting his hands dirty in order to leave a permanent impression on London

Sir Sean meets up with his co-stars