London Calling

Valentine's work for George

Evening Standard

2/14/03

He was once voted the sexiest man alive and last night George Clooney had no shortage of star admirers.

After spending 10 minutes greeting female fans who had queued for hours in the cold awaiting his arrival at the premiere of his latest film, Solaris, the Hollywood star found himself surrounded by former old flame Mariella Frostrup, Trudie Styler, his movie co-star Natascha McElhone and Minnie Driver.

Sadly for him, their company didn't extend into Valentine's Day. The former ER actor admitted: "It's terrible - I have to spend my Valentine's Day working, which is very sad for me."

Clooney, 41, and the other stars joined a charity champagne reception after the screening at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill. But despite his playful mood, Clooney was under the weather. He said: "I've got a chest infection, I'm on antibiotics and I'm drinking water. Me drinking water tells you I am sick."

In Solaris, Clooney stars as a psychologist sent to investigate a series of mysterious events on a space station orbiting a strange planet. He discovers that the planet has the power to bring the dead back to life - including Clooney's wife, played by British actress McElhone, 31.

McElhone said working with Clooney had been a joy. "Not only is George a huge movie star and very famous and extremely good-looking, he also really cares about the world and making sure the people around him are happy," she said.

The screening was in aid of the charity, Facing The World, which was founded by McElhone's husband, Martin Kelly. Mr Kelly is one of the country's leading plastic surgeons and the charity was set up to help children with facial deformities in the world's poorest countries.

Guests paid £250 a head to attend the invitation-only event, with all proceeds going to the charity. It was hosted by FWT directors Mr Kelly and Norman Waterhouse and Lucy Yeomans, editor of Harpers and Queen, and Emily Oppenheimer Turner, the magazine's social editor and patron of the charity.