Stars out for September 11 show

Chelsea Clinton last night refuted recent reports that she dislikes studying at Oxford, and said she is "very happy" at the university. Speaking at a glittering benefit gala in aid of charities working in the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September, Miss Clinton said: "I'm very happy, dad's very happy, and really, I am so grateful to be at Oxford."

Miss Clinton, who was accompanied by the American Ambassador William Farish and his wife at The Old Vic, recently wrote in a US magazine of anti-American feeling at Oxford after the terrorist attacks. However she contradicted those who interpreted her comments as an indication she did not like the university.

She said: "People have been coming up to me saying 'I hear you're really unhappy here' and it's not true at all." She added she has a good group of friends at university - not all American - and that she is coping with the academic workload. "It's fair - I knew what I was getting into and it's okay." Of 11 September, she said: "I'm still haunted by it but I don't live under a cloud. I get up every day and I live my life."

Stars were in the audience and on stage to contribute to Unite For The Future, a musical benefit in aid of The British Council, M?decins sans Frontieres and The World Trade Center Disaster Fund.

Art Garfunkel received a standing ovation for his rendition of Bridge over Troubled Water, as did the New York Police Department's Lieutenant Frank Dwyer, who urged the audience not to forget those who lost their lives in the attacks.

Judi Dench, Jude Law, Des'ree, Lord Lloyd-Webber, the stars of Kiss Me, Kate, Ruthie Henshall, violin prodigy Chloe Hanslip, The London Community Gospel Choir, Mick Hucknall and Sophie Dahl all did their bit on stage. However all the talk concerned actor Kevin Spacey's bravura performance as a singer. The actor cemented his reputation as one of Hollywood's coolest cats when he gave a brilliant rendition of The Beatles' Hey Jude and Blackbird, as well as the old showtime number Hi-de-Ho.

The A-list karaoke star belted out his songs with all the sang froid of Sinatra - and received two standing ovations.

Mr Farish said: "I never knew he could sing, but he really brought the house down, didn't he?" Miss Clinton agreed: "He was delightful - it had never occurred to me that he could sing, but he was fantastic."

David Furnish, Elton John's partner, said: "I had no idea Kevin Spacey could sing - but he was great, really fabulous."

Spacey airily explained his singing skills, saying: "I started out doing musicals right up until I was 19 or 20, and I have kept singing. It's great fun."

The gala raised more than £400,000.