Russell Brand and Katy Perry: ‘Tempest’ premiere twosome

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Just a few steps across Hollywood Boulevard from ‘The Fighter’s’ premiere Monday, stars of a Shakespearean inclination banded together to premiere Julie Taymor‘s rock-and-goth-tinged ‘The Tempest.’

Cast members Helen Mirren, Chris Cooper, Djimon Hounsou and Russell Brand, with wife Katy Perry,turned up to celebrate the film adaptation of the play, which Taymor estimated was 400 years old to the day when she introduced the film.

An after-party commenced at H.wood, with Mirren entertaining a host of visiting family members, ‘Glee’ star Chris Colfer chatting up guests after his Jay Leno taping and Hounsou looking cozy with bride Kimora Lee Simmons.

Hounsou portrays the disfigured slave Caliban, a role the actor wanted nothing to do with.

‘I screen-tested for [a different version] of ‘The Tempest’ years ago and had a bad experience, but then my manager and wife made me meet with Julie. Then I couldn’t say no,’ he told the Ministry.

Though Caliban has high drama with his sorceress master Prospera, the actor gets some on-screen levity with the colorful Brand’s Trinculo.

‘It was about four hours in makeup everyday,’ Hounsou said of the monstrous touches he was given, ‘so by the time I was finished I was in that dark place, but I think you can see it was fun [with Russell].’

In one such scene, Hounsou is covered by a large cloth and Brand attempts to identify if Caliban is man or creature. Identify in the literal sense.

We asked if it was a normal workday, getting felt up by Russell Brand?

‘No,’ the actor said, smiling.

Click the pic of Hounsou and his wife, above, for more photos from the red carpet. ‘The Tempest’ opens Friday.

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-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Right photo: Katy Perry, in Elie Saab, with husband Russell Brand at ‘The Tempest’ after-party on Dec. 6, 2010, in Hollywood. Credit: WireImage

Left photo: Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou at ‘The Tempest’ premiere at El Capitan in Hollywood. Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)