Angelina Jolie delighted screaming fans at the UK premiere of her new film, Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life: Tomb Raider 2 (2003).

Jolie is back as action heroine Lara Croft - the lycra-clad archaeologist and explorer who originated as a video game character. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life opens at screens across the UK on Friday.

Dressed in a long black dress with a plunging neckline, Jolie, 28, embarked on a 25-minute walkabout where she signed autographs and posed for pictures.

She was joined at the premiere in London's Leicester Square by the film's director Jan de Bont, and co-stars Ciaran Hinds and Noah Taylor.

Academy award winner Jolie was pleased to see many of her youngest fans dressed up as mini Lara Crofts.

She said: "They are so cute and it's good to know if I step away there will be someone to take my place."

Asked about the atmosphere outside the cinema, she added: "It's wonderful. I can't imagine coming to these things and not having people here to support us - it would be devastating."

Jolie now lives in the UK with her two-year-old son Maddox, who she adopted in Cambodia last year.

She said: "I've started to drink tea and I love English mustard. I even did some work in Cambodia recently and had some brought out to me."

Other celebrities to attend the premiere were model Lucy Clarkson and singer Barbara Baldieri.

Source: Press Release