About 2,000 fans braved freezing temperatures in London to see Leonardo DiCaprio at his new film Gangs of New York's UK premi�re.

DiCaprio, 28, was greeted with screams at the UK screening of the epic historical drama, in which he plays the starring role.

It was great being close to a genius when he's doing his thing. It was a privilege Jim Broadbent on Martin Scorsese

The actor joined co-star Daniel Day-Lewis for the screening at the Empire cinema in Leicester Square.

DiCaprio, who has been promoting the film across Europe, stopped to chat to fans, and described the reception as "surreal".

"It was pretty intense out there," he said.

"This been the biggest crowd so far, we didn't get that in Paris or Berlin."

Director Martin Scorsese, who had nurtured the project since the 1970s, also attended the screening, as did fellow stars Jim Broadbent and Lucy Davenport.

Praise

It's a film we've tried to do in the old epic style with real sets, not computers Martin Scorsese (above)

DiCaprio, 28, plays Irish-American Amsterdam Vallon, out to avenge his father's death at the hands of villainous gang leader Bill The Butcher, played by Day-Lewis.

Set in the 19th Century in New York's notorious Five Points slums, it also features Cameron Diaz and Liam Neeson, who were not at the screening.

Both DiCaprio and Broadbent lavished praise on Scorsese, who arrived with his wife Helen.

DiCaprio said: "He's our great American master, a living legend.

"It's his story, living in the streets of Little Italy and finding out who was there before him."

While Broadbent said: "It was great being close to a genius when he's doing his thing. It was a privilege.

British star Jim Broadbent praised Scorsese

"He put his heart and soul into it and it's absolutely unmissable.

"To get that call to work with Scorsese is the big one. It's the stuff of fantasy and it more than outshone my fantasies."

'History'

The 60-year-old director, who was born in New York, returned the compliments.

"They're all incredible together. The thing is about these people, they didn't perform in this picture, they inhabited it, they lived it," he said.

"It's a part of American history, New York history, that's never really been put on film before.

"It's a revelation for a lot of people seeing the movie for the first time. It's a film we've tried to do in the old epic style with real sets, not computers."

DiCaprio and Day-Lewis, who is tipped for an Oscar

Gangs Of New York is DiCaprio's first appearance on the big screen in two years following his role in The Beach - widely considered to have been a box office disappointment.

But it is Day-Lewis' performance which has been tipped for Oscar glory.

Day-Lewis, 45, was named best actor at the New York Film Critics Circle last month, regarded by many as a good indicator for the Academy Awards.

At the premi�re, he said he had no idea what he would be doing next, but denied rumours he was planning to retire from the big screen.

"It's not so much I'm retiring. As much as I love the work I also love to stay away from it. I've really no idea what I'm going to be doing next."

Few big names

Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, whose Miramax company backed the film, was also there.

Glamour: Joan Collins was one of a handful of big names

However, the premi�re was short of big-name stars - despite the arrival of movie icon Joan Collins with her husband Percy Gibson - leaving the spotlight firmly on DiCaprio.

Other guests at the event included acting couple Kelly Brook and Jason Statham, entertainer Denise Van Outen, musician-turned-actor Goldie, TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, Big Brother winner Kate Lawler and Popstars act One True Voice.

The $100m (�66m) film had its US premi�re in New York in December, a year later than it was originally due to be screened.

DiCaprio teams up with Cameron Diaz in the epic

Delays over cutting the film down from its original three-hour 40-minute version were blamed for the lengthy delay in finishing the film, which now runs at two hours and 48 minutes.

Film critics say it may be one of the last big-budget films shot on large outdoor sets.

Gangs Of New York has been well-received - but was outstripped at the North American box office by Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can, also starring DiCaprio.

The epic tale opens in the West End of London on Wednesday, before going nationwide on Friday.