The star of box office hits such as Splash and Roxanne has been signed up by the chainstore to give it a "sexy and sophisticated" look.

Daryl Hannah: Stopping traffic down the High Street

The willowy 38-year-old will front the shop's new £100,000 autumn/winter hosiery and lingerie range.

Marketing director Jane Hayman said her involvement would make this season's promotion the most exhilarating in the company's 71-year-old history.

"We are so excited to have Daryl Hannah on board - not only is she in such fantastic shape, Daryl is a very talented actress and brings the excitement of Hollywood right into the store," she enthused.

And considering that Hannah stands six feet in her socks with an outside leg measurement of 44 inches, it's hardly surprising that Bhs thought her a perfect model.

"She looks great in the new hosiery and lingerie ranges which will make all our Bhs customers feel sexy and confident from the inside out," added Hayman.

Daryl Hannah and her 44 inch legs

Shoppers will be able to make up their own minds from next week.

That's when the posters and adverts with Hannah, showing off her famous limbs, will start to appear around the UK.

In taking on a more parochial starring role, Hannah is following, what appears to be, a growing trend among the showbiz elite.