Hurley and Grant dominated the gossip columns before their split

The former Est�e Lauder model and Grant split in May 2000.

Their separation shocked the entertainment world but the pair have remained friends and still jointly run their Simian Films production company.

Grant was among a host of celebrities attending the annual Oscar Moore Screenwriting Prize ceremony in Leicester Square.

Directing

He said he was keen on moving behind the camera to direct.

"I've spent quite a long time acting now and I'm not giving it up, just broadening my horizons," said Grant.

"I'm writing a short film, but I don't really want to act in it. I'd rather direct it, that's how I feel at this stage in my life."

Grant also confirmed that he will be starring alongside Sandra Bullock in a romantic comedy next year.

Also at the ceremony was Academy Award winning director Anthony Minghella.

Minghella may work with Tom Cruise

The man behind The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley said he is currently working on an adaptation of Homer's Odyssey.

Minghella said Tom Cruise had expressed interest in starring in the film, but nothing had been finalised yet.

The director said he was hoping to move away from adapting books.

"I somehow got diverted into adapting. I now want a decade of writing original work because adapting takes too long."

The ceremony at Leicester Square honoured new European screenwriting talent.

Marcus Lloyd scooped the main prize, winning the �10,000 prize for his dark thriller Cuckoo.