LONDON (AFP) – Film star Tom Cruise on Wednesday urged his fellow Americans to get behind their new president as he attended the British premiere of his new film "Valkyrie" in London's Leicester Square.

Asked what he thought the election of Barack Obama to the White House had brought to the United States, the actor replied: "Hope, absolute hope.

"He has a challenge ahead and it's up to us as a country, it's not just up to him. We have got to support him and I believe he is going to do it."

Cruise was accompanied on the red carpet by his wife, Katie Holmes, wearing a sparkling blue dress. After he ushered her into the cinema, he spent nearly an hour signing autographs and posing for photographs with fans.

In the film, Cruise dons a Nazi uniform to play Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a German national hero who attempted to kill Hitler.

British co-star Bill Nighy, who also attended the premier, said Cruise was "wonderful to work with", adding: "He was a dreamy guy to do business with, he was inspirational and courteous and generous to everyone around him."

Source: AFP