British beauty Claire Forlani is the new face of cosmetics giant L'Oreal.

The 29-year-old London-born actress is to be paid 500,000 pounds for a series of adverts for the firm's Intesifique mascara.

She joins a host of star names who have promoted L'Oreal -- who use the slogan "Because I'm Worth It" -- including Jennifer Aniston, Kate Moss and Catherine Deneuve.

A spokesperson for the firm said: "Her stunning features and, in particular, her beautiful, deep blue eyes naturally lend themselves to this new product.

"Claire's elegance and sophistication, combined with her personal charm, make her a perfect international ambassador for L'Oreal.

Claire started her acting career in the British children's TV series Press Gang.

It was her starring role alongside Brad Pitt in romantic drama Meet Joe Black that cemented her status as one of film's hottest rising stars.

She's just finished filming Jackie Chan's latest action film, Highbinders, in Ireland.

Aug 14, 2001/ FWD/ --- L'Oreal is on a roll. Last week, the cosmetics giant snagged French actress and icon Catherine Deneuve to promote its new line of hair care products for mature women. Now, L'Oreal has signed British actress Claire Forlani as a spokesmodel for its new Intensifique Lash Intensifying Mascara. She will also appear in the company's advertising campaign this autumn.

"Claire is a highly talented actress, as well as being extremely beautiful," commented Kate Fraser, UK Marketing Manger for L'Oréal Paris.

L'Oréal is clearly partial to famous faces to promote its products. Among current endorsees are French supermodels Laetita Casta and Noémie Lenoir, and actresses Milla Jovovich and Virginie Ledoyen.

Forlani moved with her parents from London to San Francisco in 1993. After only three months in the U.S., she scored her first Hollywood role, playing one of JFK's mistresses in a TV drama. After supporting roles in movies with Sean Connery, Keanu Reeves and Christian Slater, her acting career reached its pinnacle, so far, when she scored her first leading role in Hollywood, playing opposite Brad Pitt and Sir Anthony Hopkins in 1998's Meet Joe Black.

Most recently she has appeared in Boys and Girls [opposite Freddie Prinze Jr. and AntiTrust] opposite Tim Robbins. She is currently in Dublin, filming her part in Jackie Chan's new movie Highbinders.

LOS ANGELES - He hosted solo because of his partner's bout with food poisoning, but Domenico Dolce spent hardly a moment alone during his five-day run here, presiding over one star-slammed event after another.

On Friday night, at a 1920s private Hollywood hills manse dressed up as a bacchanlian bachelor pad, the only time-out the Italian took from shaking his booty, literally, beyond the midnight hour was to stamp kisses on the cheeks of Macy Gray, Vanessa Getty, Kirsty Hume and Donovan Leitch.

"This is great," Sean "P.Diddy" Combs told Dolce.

"Hey, do you know there's a huge dance party going on in there? We've got to check it out," Claudia Mason called out to Rhea Durham in the candlelit courtyard, where trays of potent sake martinis were passed to the parched while rocker Scott Weiland, Dylan McDermott and his wife, Shiva Rose McDermott, were piling sushi on their plates.

"I love Japanese food," enthused Dolce.

"I sort of like this Italian lifestyle," replied Ben Stiller. "I could definitely get used to this."

The action wasn't limited to the main floor. In the basement, Claire Forlani played Ping-Pong, while Tobey Maguire and Alessandro Nivola put the moves on a gaggle of models.

Dolce seemed pleased and surprised by the turnout and the show's standing ovation.

"I dreamed they would come, but I never expected," he gushed in what he described as "my horrible English."

"I have always loved looking at movie stars in our clothes. But in real life -- I did not think they would be so relaxed."