LONDON: Tom Cruise’s ‘The Last Samurai’ had its British premier in London on Tuesday night, and the star signed autographs for two hours outside the theatre.

Cruise appeared to keep his promise to provide his signature to everyone who wanted it in the crowd of 5,000 delighted fans in Leicester Square.

He arrived with Spanish girlfriend Penelope Cruz, who was dressed in a red Valentino gown with plunging neckline. But she soon disappeared into the cinema as Cruise chatted with his fans, posed for photographs, and borrowed the cell phones of several to surprise their mothers with a call.

On Monday, the Oscar-nominated actor had said of the forthcoming premier: “Hey, if anyone shows up and wants my autograph, they can have it.”

It is now customary for the 41-year-old star to work overtime with his fans in Leicester Square during such premiers.

For ‘Minority Report’ in 2002, he spent 90 minutes with the crowd. The year before he courted his fans for an hour to promote the movie ‘Vanilla Sky’.

Associated Press