Speculation about the off-screen relationship between Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock threatened to eclipse talk about their performances in front of the camera last night as they arrived for the British premiere of their new film.
Rumours abound that the pair enjoyed more than just a working relationship while filming the romantic comedy Two Weeks Notice. But they have kept everyone guessing as to the true nature of their friendship.
The Four Weddings and a Funeral star Grant, 42, has said he gets on with Bullock, 38, because she reminds him of his ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth Hurley. Both women were "incredibly charming", he said, but also had "this delusion that they can do everything", he said recently.
Admitting that he found Bullock attractive but not "scarily" so, he added: "Sandy's incredibly good-looking, but I don't think she's intimidatingly good-looking."
The pair swapped some unusual gifts during filming. He gave her a chess set with pieces based on Kama Sutra positions, while she gave him goody bags of condoms and chocolates whenever he went away for the weekend.
Arriving at the premiere last night, both stars pleased the gathered fans by stopping to sign autographs and pose for photos with the crowd who had endured snow and bitterly cold weather during their wait to see the pair.
Other celebrities who turned up for the premiere in Leicester Square in central London included Elle Macpherson and Daniella Westbrook.
The film follows the traditional formula of romantic comedies by which the couple start off loathing each other but soon find themselves falling in love.
Bullock, who plays a neurotic environmental lawyer hired by Grant's billionaire property tycoon, has admitted that she would like to take time out and concentrate on other areas of her life for a while.
The star of Miss Congeniality and While You Were Sleeping said yesterday: "I really want to take some time out and think about life a little bit. I feel I need to go off and try other things that I can't do as easily right now. It's something I need to do."
