Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney visited Downing Street for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
The 46-year-old star devotes much of his time to campaigning for aid to the war-torn region of Sudan, and earlier this year he was appointed a United Nations “messenger of peace”.
Clooney met Mr Brown at Number 10 yesterday and posed for pictures with the Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah.
The actor later told reporters that they had discussed a "wonderful suggestion" about a fund to lease or buy helicopters "to create some security" in the region.
As part of his UN role, Clooney recently returned from a two-week trip to 19 locations in Africa including Darfur, the Central African Republic, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"Each conflict zone has difficulties that are unique, but there's always one unifying thread: the worst atrocities are saved for the poorest and most vulnerable," he said.
Mr Brown praised the actor's commitment to Darfur, saying: “I am grateful for the leadership George Clooney has shown in drawing attention to this crisis - this is a humanitarian tragedy of colossal proportions and the the world must take note and act."
It was a busy day for Clooney. After the trip to Downing Street, it was off to Leicester Square for the premiere of his new film Leatherheads with co-star Renee Zellweger.
There he worked his legendary charm on the hundreds of female fans who had turned out to see him, including the wannabe Nancys from BBC1 talent show I'd Do Anything.
One young lady in the crowd held up a sign which begged: "Marry me, George."
Leatherheads, a screwball comedy set in the world of American football, is Clooney’s third directorial outing.
He plays a sporting hero while Zellweger is the news reporter assigned to cover the team.
Will George Clooney and Sarah Larson last? Or is this Cinderella story doomed for a Hollywood ending?
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