Cruz sparkles for premiere

Spanish beauty Penelope Cruz has dazzled the crowds at the UK premiere of the controversial Italian film Non Ti Mouvere.

The 30-year-old actress arrived at the UGC in London's Haymarket last night, wearing a plunging John Galliano dress covered in sequins.

The Madrid-born actress plays a destitute and impoverished woman called Italia in the film whose title translates as Don't Move.

The unattractive Italia becomes involved with an upper crust physician called Timoteo, played by Sergio Castellito.

Cruz said she had to spend half an hour each day on set to transform herself into the ugly character.

She said she did not shave her legs or armpits for months, but had welcomed the chance to play the character in a small budget movie.

Penelope said: "I didn't want to bring my ego to the film. When I am on set it doesn't matter if I have a large or small trailer.

"I like something different, the more difficult the character the more chance I have to do something interesting.

"It's a love story for people who are very, very damaged for different reasons and are trying to find answers in their own way."

In the film Italia, who was raped by her father as a child, is also repeatedly sexually assaulted by her lover.

The actress, who is dating actor Matthew McConaughey, also spent five hours each day for three months learning Italian to play the role.

She refused to answer questions about whether she may marry Matthew later this year.

The film, shot in Rome, has already earned a best actress award for Cruz at Rome's David di Donatello awards, the Mediterranean equivalent of the Oscars.

The film is based on a book written by Margaret Mazzantini.