TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY DEBUTS AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

The Spy Who Loves Me: Livia Firth and Mrs Gary Oldman add a feminine touch to the all-male ensemble at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy

By Georgina Littlejohn
Last updated at 1:10 AM on 6th September 2011


So it was up to their ladies to bring some girl power to the red carpet last night and put the tuxedo majority firmly in their place.

Because while they probably hadn't intended to outshine their other halves, Mrs Colin Firth and Mrs Gary Oldman brought some much needed glamour to the premiere of their new film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy at the Venice Film Festival last night.

Their better halves: Colin Firth and Gary Oldman looked every inch the proud husbands as they posed with their wives Olivia and Alexandra at the Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy premiere in Venice last night

Olivia Firth and Alexandra Edenborough gave a feminine touch to the male-dominated red carpet as they arrived with their famous partners to the screening.

Having been used to glitzy events and high-profile award ceremonies this past year thanks to her husband's role in The King's Speech, Olivia, 42, knows how to work a red carpet with the best of them.

And last night she stood out in a simple but stunning strapless silver dress which she teamed with green shoes and emerald earrings as she dazzled by her husband's side.

Alexandra, 34, looked equally as sensational in a long black strapless dress, her hair elegantly pinned back as she posed for the cameras with Oldman.

And Firth and Oldman were not the only cast members bringing their spouses along to add some glamour to the evening

Leading ladies: The film's other stars Mark Strong and John Hurt also brought their wives along to the premiere

Mark Strong arrived with wife Liza Marshall while John Hurt attended with his fourth wife Ann Rees Meyers.

Not to be outdone, one of the film's female stars, Svetlana Khodchenkova, made sure she drew the same amount of attention as the other ladies as she swept into the event in a strapless black furry dress.

Russian beauty: Svetlana Khodchenkova was the only female star of the film that attended

And while cast mate Tom Hardy was noticeably absent from the line-up, they joined their co-star Benedict Cumberbatch on the red carpet to promote the film which is based on the 1974 novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré.

The film, set in the 1970s, tells the story of former MI6 intelligence officer George Smiley, played by Oldman, who comes out of semi-retirement to uncover a Russian agent.

Firth plays fellow spy Bill Haydon known as an urbane womaniser whose conquests include Smiley’s wife.

Going it alone: Benedict Cumberbatch came without a date but looked very handsome in his black suit as he posed for the cameras

And last night he said that after a year of being the leading man and the centre of attention, he was happy to take a step back and take a supporting role.

Speaking to journalists at the premiere, he said: 'It was great to have something that was meaty enough to get my teeth into, but let other people do the heavy lifting. It's basically all I did last year and it suited me very well.'

What's that on your jacket? Colin adjusts Gary's suit as Benedict and John look on in amusement