Madonna Defends Wallis Simpson At Premiere

Hundreds of fans turned up to see Madonna at the UK premiere of W.E., the film she wrote and directed about one of the most controversial figures in British royal history - Wallis Simpson.

The queen of pop swept down the red carpet at the Odeon theatre in Kensington, south west London, last night wearing a floor-length black Jean Paul Gaultier dress and Dolce & Gabbana cape.

This is her second go at directing a feature film. Despite her last film, 2008's Filth and Wisdom, being panned she seems determined to prove she can make movies as good as her music and as well as ex-husbands Guy Ritchie and Sean Penn.

Most reviews of W.E. so far are pretty scathing but Madonna says she pays no attention to the critics.

The film tells the story of the American socialite, who sparked scandal and a constitutional crisis when King Edward VIII fell in love with her and abdicated to marry her.

Divorcee Simpson was loathed by much of the British public for being a manipulative social climber and accused of fraternising with the Nazis.

But Madonna says she was misunderstood - portraying her as a tragic victim.

Like Madonna she was hounded by the press, perhaps something the style icon can relate to.

"We're uncomfortable with women who don't fit the conventional archetype, she didn't fit the mould, she was over 40, people didn't get it, they didn't know her and jumped to conclusions," Madonna said, defending Simpson.

Madonna presents this as a fairy tale romance - a king who sacrificed his empire for the woman he loved.

"I was fascinated by her love story and what quality she had that would make a man give up his power for her," Madonna said.

Music fans worried that Madonna has abandoned singing for films need not worry. It has emerged that although W.E. has been taking up most of her time for the past three years, Madonna will release her 12th studio album in April.

It is apparently called MDNA - a controversial title because of its drug reference similarity to ecstasy's MDMA.

It proves the 53-year-old singer hasn't lost her shocking streak.

Although Madonna has always made films, from Desperately Seeking Susan to playing the critically acclaimed Eva Peron in Evita, as a director she is yet to impress the critics - so she immersed herself in the life of Simpson.

She spent two years researching and writing the film, even wallpapering an empty room in her house with pictures of the duke and duchess.

Madonna also called in some famous favours for the film. Mohamed al Fayed, played by an actor in the film, lent his letters between the couple, which became a key part of the story. Mr al Fayed also allowed filming on his Paris property in the Bois de Boulogne where they lived in exile.

Andrea Riseborough, who previously starred in Brighton Rock opposite Helen Mirren and played a young Margaret Thatcher in the BBC's The Long Walk to Finchley, stars as Simpson.

She denies W.E. is misleading because it is not a biopic and said: "You're not tied to anything historical version of the truth... I felt that by using a modern woman in the film to look back at Wallis was an interesting way to look at a woman's life."

James D'Arcy stars as King Edward VIII and the Australian actress Abbie Cornish portrays Wally Winthrop, whose obsession with the Duchess of Windsor allows the story a modern twist.

:: W.E. is released in Britain on January 20.