Equity has attacked the National Theatre for casting foreign talent such as Glenn Close in its production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

But the many theatregoers welcomed the Hollywood contingent with open arms.

Household names with an exotic flavour were credited with bringing a new audience to the theatre.

Madonna received mixed reviews

But many in the theatre world are now beginning to feel they are being cast as a gimmick to sell tickets and nothing more.

Kevin Spacey was one of the pioneers for the influx in 1998.

His turn in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh at the Almeida Theatre in Islington saw him pick up two best actor awards for his acclaimed performance, beating native talent like David Suchet, Michael Gambon, and Ewan McGregor.

Later that year, Nicole Kidman created an even greater stir when she appeared in the Sam Mendes production of David Hare's The Blue Room at the Donmar Warehouse.

One critic described her performance as "theatrical Viagra". Audience members were frisked for cameras to prevent the circulation of illicit photos of Kidman in a state of undress.

Critics aflutter

The West End production of The Graduate produced a veritable conveyor belt of American stars of a certain age stripping off.

Kathleen Turner, Jerry Hall and even Anne Archer caused flutters among London's theatre critics and attracted tabloid attention and packed houses.

More recently, the flow of Hollywood's finest has increased and has embraced rising stars as well as established favourites.

Matt Damon starred in This Is Our Youth

This Is Our Youth, a tale of a trio of rich, disaffected Reagan-era youths, has brought two American casts to the West End.

The original cast featured Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Jake Gyllenhaal, currently starring in Lovely and Amazing, and Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar as a 10-year-old for The Piano.

They gave way to an equally glamorous group comprising Matt Damon, currently firmly residing in Hollywood's A-list, Casey Affleck, brother of Ben, and Summer Phoenix, sister of Joaquin and River.

Gwyneth Paltrow surprised many critics with her performance as the troubled daughter of a mathematical genius in Proof at the Donmar Warehouse, despite lacking stage experience.

Controversial glitz

With celebrated character actor Philip Seymour Hoffman directing a play, and Jude Law also treading the boards at the time, it was joked that the whole of the cast of the Talented Mr Ripley was in the West End at the same time.

Perhaps the most controversial taste of Hollywood glitz was provided by Madonna, who is now based in the UK.

With the newspapers full of tales of primadonna-ish demands for private security, redecorated dressing rooms and special demands, the pop star was always likely to be shot down.

Gwyneth Paltrow won standing ovations

Her performances were savaged by some newspapers, with others accused of pulling their punches because of her celebrity.

It was said by some that she generated applause for simply being there, despite her apparent nervousness in early performances.

But more recently, there was a wholehearted welcome for Woody Harrelson and Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan, who were praised in most of the newspapers for On An Average Day.

The Indecent Proposal star's turn as a mentally ill man estranged from his brother was dubbed "magnificent, rambling and ranting" and MacLachlan was "superb".

But there remains a nagging doubt that rave reviews and standing ovations aside, Hollywood actors are being cast for their star power and not the subtlety of their acting skills.