By Tom Bourton BBC News Online

Church said she was frustrated about press stories into her private life

There was a great deal of fuss as a 17-year-old girl went to her local cinema on a Monday night.

But Charlotte Church is no ordinary teenager and this was no ordinary night at the pictures.

A crowd of more than 200 competition winners lined up to greet Church as she arrived for the premiere of her debut movie I'll Be There.

They behaved well, clapping and cheering as the stars arrived - all the jostling was left to the massed ranks of the media, who were out in force to greet the latest chapter of Church's remarkable career.

Charlotte was on fine form as she chatted to the press, playing down the persistent rumours about family rows about her boyfriend, explaining why her parents were not there and stressing how normal her life is outside of the press spotlight.

She was delighted the premiere had been brought to her local screen, but was really nervous about her friends seeing the movie - and doesn't enjoy seeing herself either.

The audience lined up to see her arriving

"I hate watching myself on screen - I was cringing throughout," she said afterwards.

She said she found acting very natural after years performing on stage.

"You hardly have to do anything when you are acting - you have to be really subtle."

Although the movie is set in Cardiff, it was actually filmed in London.

But that is not stopping Church trying to give Welsh tourism a boost from across the Atlantic.

"I have been promoting Cardiff and Wales as much as I can," she said.

"In America, I tell them nowhere is as good as Cardiff - you should see it when the daffodils are out."

There was plenty of media attention at the event

As for the future, it is back to music, but she will not be releasing another dance track.

"I am just experimenting with every different type of music you can imagine and seeing weher my voice lies and what sounds best.

"I think when I do finally do the album it will be very eclectic - just loads of different stuff on it.

And then she was off into the movie - a gentle romantic comedy which, although it felt quite long, should do her career no harm at all.

In it, Church plays a young girl who finds out her dad is a rock star, and admitted the role had a lot in common with her own experiences.

After the picture finished, Church and director/writer/star Craig Ferguson went up front to answer questions from fans.

The pair happily sat there for an entertaining 15 minutes, spilling secrets from the set and telling stories about accidents during filming - Ferguson broke two ribs and his collarbone while testing a motorbike.

Finally, as if to remind everyone why she is famous, the evening was rounded off by an impromptu unaccompanied singing display from Church.