Becoming Jane had its world premiere in London last night - without some of its main stars.

American actress Anne Hathaway was forced to miss the event in Leicester Square because she was on set shooting for her next film.

Becoming Jane is about the early years of author Jane Austen's life and has come under some criticism recently over its subject matter.

The film suggests that a Austen's first love to some extent moulded her literary ability, and it was defended by James McAvoy, who plays Austen's love interest in the film.

He told the BBC, "Definitely without a doubt she had a relationship with this man and they did many outrageous things for the time such as holding hands in public and doing more than five dances in a row.

"Shortly after he broke up the relationship, she burned all the letters from him."

In addition to Hathaway, Dame Maggie Smith and Laurence Fox were also absent from the film premiere.