Rainswept glamour at Cannes

Sharing a joke: Uma Thurman and Gerard Depardieu

Torrential rain could not take the shine off the official opening of the Cannes Film Festival as a succession of Hollywood stars soaked the 53rd annual cinema showcase in glamour.

Cut-price trousers?

Leading the way up the steps of the Palais des Festivals was Pulp Fiction actress Uma Thurman.

She was joined by her co-stars in British director Roland Joffe's opening film, Vatel, Julian Sands and French actor Gerard Depardieu.

A trio of L'Oreal faces, Chinese model Gong Li, American actress Andie MacDowell and German model-turned-actress Claudia Schiffer, followed.

Wonderbra model Adriana Sklenarikova strikes a pose

Wonderbra model Adriana Sklenarikova posed for photographers in a pink gown with pearl necklace, bracelet and ear-rings.

Actresses Holly Hunter and Bridget Fonda, both appearing in films on show at the festival, also made their entrances in style, the former in a graceful blue dress.

Among the judges who lined up for pictures was UK actor Jeremy Irons, who earlier confessed he hoped the movie selection would be exciting enough to keep him awake.

Graceful: Holly Hunter

The former Oscar winner and star of The Mission and Brideshead Revisited was accompanied by pregnant fellow Briton Kristin Scott Thomas, star of The English Patient.

A total of 23 films from across the globe are competing for the feted Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes festival.

Just one British entry, Bread and Roses by veteran director Ken Loach, is included on the shortlist.

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin made history by becoming the country's first premier to attend Cannes.

Master of ceremonies for the grand opening was set to be Virginie Ledoyen, who co-starred in recent Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach.