Clooney thrills fans at premiere

Clooney, who plays a US sports star also directed the movie

Screen idol George Clooney was greeted by hundreds of screaming fans at the UK premiere of his new film Leatherheads.

The 46-year-old accompanied co-star Renee Zellweger to the Leicester Square screening of the romantic comedy.

Clooney plays an American footballer who gets caught up in a love triangle with a reporter in the 1920s-set film.

But he said that in real life, his sporting ambitions were frustrated: "I did have two try-outs with the Cincinnati Reds. I only lacked talent."

At one point, wannabe Nancys from the BBC One show I'd Do Anything joined crowds outside the Odeon Leicester Square.

Clooney posed with the contestants from I'd Do Anything

Asked at a press conference before the premiere about his appeal to women, Clooney joked: "What's not to love? How much time do we have? I think it's really hair."

Co-star Zellweger, 38, added: "It looks almost natural."

Earlier in the day, Clooney visited Downing Street to discuss the Darfur crisis with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Leatherheads, which opened to mixed reviews, has recorded disappointing takings in the US.

It came third at last weekend's North American box office, behind gambling film 21 and fantasy Nim's Island.

"I wish I could have that crystal ball and tell you what went wrong," Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal, said earlier this week.