Cheryl Cole hits Cannes in daring cutaway dress (but protects her modesty with some almost invisible underwear)

By Liz Thomas In Cannes

Risque: Cheryl Cole wore a daring Versace slashed-to-the-hip dress to the premiere of Outside the Law at the Cannes Film Festival today


Cheryl Cole was the star of the Cannes Film Festival tonight as she dazzled in a risqué slashed-to-the-hip Versace dress.

Days after performing at a jeweller's party, the Girls Aloud singer returned to the French Riviera to make her first red carpet appearance at the premiere of Algerian film Outside The Law.

While the revealing dress appeared to flash plenty of flesh, it appeared Cole was protecting her modesty with some strategically placed 'invisible' underwear.

The movie, about the armed Algerian resistance movement in 1950s France and has caused a storm of controversy, was an unusual choice for Cole to attend


Protecting her modesty: Cole made sure she didn't expose herself with some 'invisible' nude underwear


A relative unknown on mainland Europe, Cole wisely chose the gritty, independent film away from the mainstream to make her red carpet debut at the festival.

While previous premieres have seen Hollywood A-listers clamber for attention alongside supermodels, Cole shared the carpet with The Gossip singer Beth Ditto and French actress Mathilda May.

The film by Rachid Bouchareb tackles colonial French oppression in the 1950s and events leading up to Algeria's battle for independence in 1962.

In France it has sparked a furious controversy from right wing politicians, historians and war veterans over its content and issues of historical accuracy. So much so that security was tight at the Cannes Film Festival screenings with a ramped up police presence, body searches and confiscation of water bottles.

It seemed a bizarre choice of premiere for Miss Cole to attend but she is determined to raise her profile in Europe, where she is releasing her first solo album 3 Words.

She has been supporting American band The Black Eyed Peas on the European leg of their tour and earlier this week performed a 250,000 pound, 30 minute gig for jewellery firm de Grisogono.

The star was asked by Cannes Film Festival organisers to make an appearance on the red carpet, but her hectic schedule meant Friday night was the only premiere she could do.

As L'Oreal is a sponsor of the event all of their biggest models, including Eva Longoria, Evangeline Lilly and Aishwarya Rai, have made red carpet appearances.


Centre of attention: Cole works her magic for the horde of paparazzi


Flashing her tattoos: Cole's slashed-to-the-hip dress showed off her circle of thorned roses tattoo at the top of her thigh


It is understood Miss Cole did not watch the film, instead opting to go out for dinner before attending a party thrown by the Black Eyed Peas thrown on a luxury yacht.

She has spent much of this week with rapper Will.I.am.

There has been speculation about the pair’s growing friendship, fuelled by his comments that she was the ‘most beautiful woman in the world’

The singer, who recently separated from husband Ashley Cole, looked like she did not have a care in the world as the pair danced, cuddled and posed for photographs, when he DJed at the de Grisogono party on Tuesday, which she had earlier sung at.

The £250,000 gig was the latest money spinning deal Miss Cole has secured.
In 2009 she pocketed £1.2million as a judge for the last series of The X Factor, a figure expected to rise this year.

She has also signed deals worth £500,000 each with L’Oreal and Coca-Cola Zero, and seen her debut solo album, 3 Words, go to number one – all of which has helped take her fortune rocket by 150 per cent over the last year from £4million to £10million.

The Mail reported last month that she was making plans to end her three-and-a-half-year marriage to footballer Ashley.


Standing out from the crowd: The Gossip singer Beth Ditto wore an eccentric orange dress with a fox pattern around the neck


She announced she was separating from the Chelsea player in February, after a fresh wave of allegations about his infidelity with at least five women claiming to have been involved with him.

Sources say the Girls Aloud singer, 26, is likely to keep the couple's nine-bedroom home just outside Godalming, Surrey, which they bought for £3.5million in 2008.

After alterations, the property is now said to be worth £6million.


Floor-length glamour: Kristin Scott Thomas wore a loose-fitting black gown and Gothic eye make-up (left) while French actress Mathilda May wore a chic purple flowing gown


source: dailymail