Kill Bill 2: The Premiere

Prince William's guard was tripled and people called Bill went in hiding all over London last night as Uma Thurman swept into town for the ** Kill Bill Vol.2** premiere. Leaving a trail of severed limbs and broken bodies behind on the red carpet (which was white to begin with), the Bride and the remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad swept into the Empire cinema in Leicester Square, checking their samurai swords at the door and swiftly concealing small-calibre weapons under their coats instead. OK, so we're kidding about the severed limbs and the weaponry, but there was a palpable sense of violence in the air as journalists fought for a quick word or a brief glimpse of the stars of Tarantino's revenge saga. Riding a wave of hype that has been growing since the first volume of the film opened last October, the rain-sodden crowds outside and the lucky buggers inside the cinema were keen to show their appreciation for Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen and Daryl Hannah. For the second time in six months the outrageously beautiful Uma Thurman made everyone within a four-mile radius feel unattractive by dint of simply breathing. She didn't seem to mind trekking back to London for a second premiere. "I think we deserved at least two premieres, if not three!" Unfortunately, Thurman had no time to enjoy this green and pleasant land on this visit. She had to rush back to the States today for work, presumably on Be Cool which she is currently filming with John Travolta. But the Bride wasn't the only DiVAS member there. Daryl Hannah talked about how much she enjoyed her role as California Mountain Snake. "It was like being the most arrogant fun person; sort of 'everybody move out of the way because I'm the queen of the universe and I'm coming through!'" Michael Madsen, AKA Sidewinder, didn't have quite so much fun because his character had to do some extremely nasty things to the Bride. "I certainly didn't enjoy doing that. She's a beautiful girl and it's not the kind of thing you want to do to someone like that. But I didn't write the screenplay." The man responsible, Quentin Tarantino, didn't come over for the premiere this time, but Madsen was unwilling to divulge his whereabouts. David Carradine, or Bill himself, was greeted with huge cheers from the fans clustered outside. "I guess I'm sleep-deprived; it's been a whirlwind," said the man who prompted such a bloody revenge. Carradine has enjoyed cult status and a huge number of fans for years, but clearly relished the limelight in which he now finds himself. It remains to be seen, however, if this iconic role will lead to many others. "I have a few things in the fire; they're all in development and sometimes they never get made. So essentially I'm available, in case anyone wants to know. For a price!" Casting directors of the world, take note. All too quickly the glamorous quartet swept into the cinema to introduce the film, although Daryl "Tom Cruise" Hannah went back out into the rain to sign autographs for the dedicated devotees who braved the English spring weather. Elle Driver, we salute you.