By Nadia Mendoza


Still flaunting the muscles: Director Madonna attends the W.E. UK film premiere at the Odeon in Kensington


It seems Madonna is really milking this directing malarky.

Despite having already premiered her W.E. film at the 55th BFI London Film Festival in Leicester Square last October, she relished another red carpet event tonight at the Odeon in Kensington.

The Ray Of Light singer channelled her inner goth girl with an all-black ensemble, opting for a delicate lace cloak, heavy velvet gown - and of course, a vest strap to show off her muscly arm.


While choosing one colour may seem a little 'safe', Madonna spiced up the Jean Paul Gaultier frock and Dolce & Gabbana cape with red fingerless gloves and lashings of bright lipstick.

Her trademark blonde locks hung loosely by her side as the Queen of Pop greeted her adoring fans.

She played the Mother Hen to her stars Andrea Riseborough, James D'Arcy, Richard Coyle and Natalie Dormer; putting her arms around them to pose as own daughter Lourdes was absent.


Greeting the crowd: Madonna appeared to show her age a little as she photographed from her profile

Lady of the night: Madonna opted for an all-black ensemble, with red details

The film, which has so far received relatively bad reviews, follows a two-tiered romantic drama focusing on the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson; alongside a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard.

It is Madonna's second venture as a director, with her first being in 2008, for Filth And Wisdom.

As the global star greeted her fans to sign autographs, she was still being preened to within an inch of her life by manager Guy Oseary who was clutching a brush and combing her hair as she spoke.

Still preening: Manager Guy Oseary continued to brush Madonna's hair as she signed autographs

While her leading men and ladies may not be so well known this side of the Atlantic, they are fast becoming household names.

Andrea, 30, has starred in Never Let Me Go alongside Carey Mulligan and new Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield, while British beauty Natalie, 29, starred as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors.

Flying the flag for the boys is D'Arcy, 36, who appeared in Secret Diary Of A Call Girl with Billie Piper and 39-year-old Richard Coyle who starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time.


The whole gang: Madonna poses with Andrea Riseborough, James D'Arcy, Richard Coyle and Natalie Dormer


Relishing the limelight: Natalie, Andrea and James are relatively unknown on UK shores

Mother instinct: While Lourdes was nowhere to be seen, Madonna looked after her stars Andrea and Natalie

Speaking of the film, the mother-of-four said she is simply a hopeless romantic looking for a prince.

She said: 'If you’re a romantic like me everyone wants to be swept away by a knight in shining armour but we keep getting disappointed. If you have half a brain you know that doesn’t exist.'


Tribute to Jacko? Madonna wore fingerless gloves at the premiere and earlier at the photocall


Beauty queens: Model Amber Anderson, Emilia Fox and Claudia Winkleman put on their Sunday Best

Muscles like no other: Madonna showed off her impressive biceps; a reflection of her gym obsession

Abbie Cornish, who starred opposite Heath Ledger in Candy, plays leading lady Wally Winthrop.

However, the rising star missed out on the action and did not attend the red carpet event.

Other stars to flock to the West London location were model Amber Anderson, actress Emilia Rox and the minute but perfectly formed Claudia Winkleman.


A Royal affair: Crown Prince Pavlos with his wife Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece also got in on the action

Flying the flag for the men: John Hannah and Ronan Keating were suited and booted for the occasion

The former presenter of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two was in attendance as husband Kris Thykier produced the film.

And despite being a woman who transcends time zones by continually reinventing herself; it seems Madonna still harbours a taste for Eighties fashion as she proved at a photocall earlier today.

Not such a hit with critics: James D'Arcy & Andrea Riseborough star as Edward and Wallis in W.E.

The Material Girl teamed an elegant curve-hugging navy dress with fingerless biker gloves earlier today - although of course they were emblazoned with large diamante Coco Chanel emblems.

She showed off her slender physique in the tailored frock at the London Studios, that daringly gaped at the cleavage to show a hint of black lace beneath.


Kitsch: Madonna shows off her Chanel gloves as she promotes W.E. ahead of her big London premiere

Hiding something? Madonna poses with hands behind her back at the W.E. photocall at the London Television Studios

Her hair was in a similar style to this evening's more glamorous affair, cascading loosely past her ears, and teamed with neutral make-up to emulate a just-going-about-my-daily-business look.

Madonna spiced up the outfit with fishnets and black patent peep-toe heels; together with several chunky accessories including a large silver bracelet and a watch.

To coincide with tonight's premiere, the Golden Globe-winner has also announced the title of her 12th studio album is MDNA and that she will be going on tour again.

Posing with the gang: Madonna puts her arms around James D'Arcy and Andrea Riseborough


During an interview with Graham Norton, she said: 'I just have to pay the rent. A girl has to make a living, but truthfully I do enjoy it. Touring is the most rewarding of all my jobs.'

The release of the new record has been tainted slightly by the leak of an early version of the first single, Gimme All Your Luvin' in November 2010, for which a Spanish man was arrested in December.

Referring to the incident, Madonna joked: 'It's soon (the release date). It depends how quickly people hack in to my server and leak it. Can people wait? It's terrible.'


New kid on the block: Emeli Sandé joins Madonna and the cast on the sofa




source:dailymail