LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2000 — Despite the protests in the background, Elizabeth Hurley still managed to charm at the premiere for “Bedazzled” on Wednesday night.
The supermodel turned actress, who continues to draw fire from the Screen Actors Guild for filming a commercial during the union’s strike, was greeted upon arrival at the Mann Village Theatre in the Westwood section of Los Angeles with crowds jeering and holding up signs. But Hurley, swathed in head-to-toe Versace, smiled and chatted with reporters about her new leading role, playing the devil (literally) who grants Elliot (Brendan Fraser) seven wishes to help him win the girl of his dreams (Frances O’Connor).
“Nobody can tell you the devil doesn’t talk like that, the devil wouldn’t do that, the devil wouldn’t wear that,” Hurley said at the premiere. “You can do anything you like. And that’s quite rare for a part.”
Director Harold Ramis (“Analyze This“) was delighted with the film, particularly the different guises Elliot takes on when his wishes are granted.
“They were so extreme when I saw them on paper,” Ramis said. “I said ‘Let’s see what they look like on film’ and they looked great … I love the way Brendan transforms from scene to scene and it was so much fun.”
Attending the premiere were Fraser and O’Connor, as well as Barbara Eden, Raquel Welch, Jacqueline Bisset, Jane Seymour, Sean Kanan, Garcelle Beauvais and many others.
“It’s a mythic thing. It touches on something a lot of us spend our time on: Wishing things were different. And you get to see someone play off our fondest wishes wishing we were powerful,” Ramis said of the film.
“Bedazzled” opens Oct. 17.
