Cruise attends Valkyrie premiere

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Tom Cruise talks film roles and his love for acting

Actor Tom Cruise has graced the red carpet at the UK premiere of Valkyrie in London's Leicester Square.

The star, who was greeted by hundreds of fans at the gala, said making the film was a "powerful" experience.

The movie tells the true story of how a German officer attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

The 46-year-old is hoping for better reviews of the film, which received negative comments after its recent release in Germany.

Valkyrie, which had its release date postponed twice, has been plagued with problems, which included 11 extras being hurt during filming.

A major scene from the World War II thriller also had to be re-shot after footage was damaged at a film processing plant in Germany.

'Extremely stiff'

Initially German officials banned film-makers from working at military sites in the country because Cruise is a Scientologist. The decision was later overturned.

Cruise plays Count Claus von Stauffenberg in the film

The 1944 plot was devised by Count Claus von Stauffenberg, who tried to kill Hitler using a briefcase bomb. The Nazi leader escaped with minor wounds.

Franz von Stauffenberg, a relative of the count, told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag what he thought of Cruise's performance.

"He tries to seem elegant but comes across as extremely stiff. He seems not at all decisive in the role and, above all, not charismatic enough," he said.

Cruise is also due to publicise the movie on Jonathan Ross's Friday night BBC One chat show. It will be the first since the presenter's three-month suspension for making prank calls on a radio show.

"I know a little bit about it and have done interviews with Jonathan Ross before when I've come here, so I'm looking forward to seeing him," said the actor.