Smith thrills at Hancock premiere

Smith plays a down-and-out superhero called Hancock

Hollywood actor Will Smith thrilled fans at the UK premiere of his latest film, Hancock, with a red-carpet walkabout in London's Leicester Square.

The star, who plays bungling superhero Hancock, spent time posing for photographs and signing autographs.

He told fans: "You guys always take really good care of me... this is a beautiful thing."

Smith, 39, was joined at the screening by Hancock co-stars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.

Family rivalry

In the film, Hancock is an alcoholic who does not care about other people's opinions - until he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Bateman)

The character begins to realise he may have a vulnerable side after all, but facing his weakness could be his biggest challenge yet.

Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron star alongside Smith

Smith said of his character: "Hancock is a bit of a drinker and he's super, which is a bit of a dangerous combination because he flies drunk.

"We tried to just break genre and create something that was different."

Hancock opens in cinemas the same week as Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, which co-stars Smith's daughter Willow.

He joked: "I just told her 'sweetheart, daddy loves you but I've got to stop you at the box office.' She was like 'well daddy, you get us a lot of nice things, so you do what you have to do'."