Shyamalan called Bryce Dallas Howard "a real find"

Shyamalan, also behind movies The Sixth Sense and Signs, cast unknown actress Bryce Dallas Howard, 23, in the leading role of his latest thriller.

"He's very proud of this movie," said Ms Howard of her father's reaction.

Ron Howard starred in 1970s show Happy Days and has directed films including A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13.

Chart topper

Ms Howard said she would like to work with her father one day.

"We haven't discussed it. I hope so one day, but it's up to him, I am just the actor," she said.

Joaquin Phoenix also starred in Shyamalan's thriller Signs

Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody, Sigourney Weaver and Joaquin Phoenix also star in The Village, about a self-sufficient community who live alongside a wood that is home to strange and terrifying creatures.

When a mutual agreement to keep out of each other's living space is breached, the calm of the village is shattered.

The supernatural film took the number one spot in the North American and Canada box office chart earlier this week, making $50.8m (�27.8m) in its opening weekend.

Celebrities who attended the premiere included novelist, screenwriter and actor Meera Syal, her boyfriend and star of The Kumars at No. 42, Sanjeev Bhaskar, and Martin Freeman of The Office fame.