Hugh Grant: I'd love to be a dad

The star of About A Boy declared at the premiere he would love to be a father. "I always wanted to be a dad, it would be marvellous to be a father," admitted Hugh Grant.

But he was not very forthcoming on the subject of his former girlfriend Liz Hurley and the arrival of her son Damian.

He refused to reveal whether he had visited Hurley at Sir Elton John's Berkshire mansion where she is recovering after the birth. She has named American Steve Bing as the father.

Asked if he had seen Hurley and Damian since flying into Britain from America yesterday, he said: "I wish the both of them all the luck in the world, I am very fond of Liz, apart from that I just don't have any answers for you."

When asked if he had bought any presents for the baby or seen the baby he simply replied: "I cannot say."

Hurley's sister Kate, who runs a movie agency, and mother Angela were at the premiere and party. When quizzed about what women found attractive in him Grant, wearing a black suit and shirt, could only say: "I have absolutely no idea - to say I'm a sex symbol is absolute nonsense."

He went on a five-minute walkabout to meet fans outside in Leicester Square before heading off to the premiere party at the former Saatchi Gallery in Boundary Road, St John's Wood.

Guests included designer Valentino, singer Dannii Minogue, Sir Elton John's partner David Furnish, Badly Drawn Boy singer Damon Gough, who provided the soundtrack for the film, Muriel's Wedding actress Toni Collette and actress Victoria Smurfit, who also star in About A Boy.

Rachel Weisz, Grant's onscreen love interest, was unable to make the screening as she was filming. Author Nick Hornby was also there, along with 12-year-old star Nicholas Hoult.

REVIEW: A change of Hugh for Grant