Tom outs himself as Villa fan

Tom Hanks attended the premiere of his new movie Charlie Wilson's War in London - and outed himself as an unlikely Aston Villa football fan.

The 51-year-old stars alongside Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the film, based on a true story of "the most successful covert operation in history".

Tom plays playboy congressman Wilson, who secretly assisted rebels in Afghanistan in their war with the Soviets.

But he swapped politics for football on the red carpet by wearing an Aston Villa scarf, because he "likes the team".

When asked who he was supporting in the US presidential election he said: "You guys have all the luck in the UK, you get yours over and done with so quickly. We've got several more months to go. Ask me in six months when I've decided."

Julia, 40, is being tipped to win her second Oscar for her role as a socialite whose efforts with the Texan congressman and a CIA agent, played by Philip, contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. But the Pretty Woman was absent from the European premiere in Leicester Square because she was apparently working on her next project.

The film, directed by Mike Nichols, is up for several Golden Globes, including Best Film, Best Actor for Tom and Supporting Actress and Actor for Julia and Philip. But the traditional Globe ceremony has been cancelled because of the writers' strike in the US. Julia had reportedly already decided to boycott the Globes, while Tom said he wouldn't be in America anyway.

Charlie Wilson's War opens on Friday.