Katy Perry stopped traffic on one of America's most famous streets this week, with the premiere of her latest movie 'Katy Perry: Part of Me'. The event on Tuesday evening (June 26, 2012) drew an estimated 5,000 fans to Los Angeles - far more than the average premiere, reports Usa Today.
The attendance shocked Perry herself, who said, "I never thought I'd shut down Hollywood Boulevard.I told them I wanted to do something special.I hope this is special enough". On a temporary stage set up on the Boulevard, Perry performed hits such as 'Firework', 'Teenage Dream' and 'I Kissed a Girl', while stars such as Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were escorted through the crowds into the Grauman's Chinese Theater for the first public showing of the film. Perry later walked the red-carpet in a red velvet Dolce and Gabbana dress, and spoke further about the sheer magnitude of the premiere, saying, "I have had a little bit of a tummy turn today.It's overwhelming. I shut down Hollywood Boulevard today. Five years ago I was asking to borrow money from my little brother". Though the film is likely to be one of the biggest musical movies of the year, 'Part of Me' has also been the subject of intense controversy, not least because it documents Perry's divorce from Russell Brand. The British comedian had reportedly requested that he be kept out of the film, though numerous scenes are understood to feature a distressed Perry coming to terms with the split. Referencing her lower points in the movie, the singer explained, "You wouldn't be able to recognize me on the street, I look that bad.It wasn't necessarily glamorous. But it's nice to break down the wall of perfection".
Katy Perry's 'Part of Me' hits cinemas worldwide on July 5, 2012. It contains live performances from the singer's sold out 'California Dreams' tour, filmed at the Staples Center.