Celebrity Photos of the Week: London calling! (And a bearded lady on hold)
Well, hullo, Charles Dance. What on earth could drag a reputable English actor like yourself out on a miserable rainy night? Was it to promote your small role in the new film The Imitation Game at the London Film Festival? Or were you hoping to make people forget that you’re also in Dracula Untold. No need to answer. We’ve already lost interestLEON NEAL/AFP / Getty Images
Also braving the elements was Imitation Game star Benedict Cumberbatch, best known on these shores for his recurring TV portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and his best-selling line of frozen shepherd’s pies. Now at a supermarket near you!LEON NEAL/AFP / Getty Images
And here we see the model-turned-actress known as Keira Knightley, who was also subject to the terrible English weather on the Imitation Game red carpet. Shouldn’t a star of her magnitude have a designated brolly-holder?Gareth Cattermole
Why, yes she does. Always read the fine print in your studio contract, old chap...LEON NEAL/AFP / Getty Images
Once towelled off, the stars took part in a press conference, where Mr. Cumberbatch showed rare good humour with his Sherlock-themed knock-knock jokes (re: “Knock-knock. Who’s there. Watson. Watson who? Watson TV tonight?”)Tim P. Whitby
‘Will you stop with the Sherlock jokes already!’Tim P. Whitby
Elsewhere at the London Film Festival, the young English actor Douglas Booth cut a dashing figure on the red carpet in his new tuxedoJohn Phillips
Stephen Fry showed up in his tux, too – a Jeeves forever looking for his WoosterJohn Phillips
And my stars, isn’t that Julie Walters striking a pose for the photographers? Three decades later, the education of Rita continuesJohn Phillips
Some fashion-watchers thought actress Gwendoline Christie was a tad overdressed for the London film fest with her lavish gownJohn Phillips
While other style mavens felt that Gala Gordon went too far in the other direction with her Little Red Riding Hood cape and stovepipe pantsJohn Phillips
And nobody was quite sure what Olga Kurylenko was going for with this eye-watering outfitJohn Phillips
In other news, Christoph Waltz used that old-world Austrian charm to sweep actress Emily Blunt off her feet at the London Film Festival. Laugh all you want, but this guy has won two Oscars in two years with this schtickJohn Phillips
Okay, one hand-kiss per customer. Back away from the actress, WaltzSamir Hussein/Getty Images
Elsewhere in London: Hugh Grant was determined to prove that he didn’t need the imprimatur of the London Film Festival behind him to promote his new movie The Rewrite – which partly explained why the premiere took place at a an abandoned chip shopJoel Ryan
Also at the premiere: Hugh Grant’s onetime girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley, who does not appear in The Rewrite but showed up at the premiere anyway to support her former beau. Austin Powers would be proud, missyJoel Ryan
‘For the last bloody time, Liz, if I had known she was a hooker, I wouldn’t have picked her up...’Joel Ryan
Finally, we take you to Brussels, where transgender Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst appeared before the European Parliament (seriously) to perform several songs and discuss important matters. Over to you, Conchita...EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP / Getty Images
To her credit, Ms. Wurst brought down the house with unique vocal stylings that included a soulful version of Three Times a LadyEMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP / Getty Images
But the good times came to a crashing end when a sharp eye inquired: ‘Aren’t you one of the Kardashian sisters?’Yves Logghe/The Associated Press