The Sheffield Star June 1999 - "Rogue Trader" Premiere
The two stars of a big-screen version of the story of the collapse of Barings Bank used its glittering premiere to give their sympathetic support to disgraced trader Nick Leeson.
Arriving at the screening of Rogue Trader, its stars Anna Friel and Ewan McGregor said the film showed a different side of the man whose financial dealings brought about the collapse of Barings.
Ms Anna Friel, who plays Leeson's former wife, Lisa, said: "I think what it does is give another side to the story, not just what you've heard".
Her co-star Ewan McGregor, who plays Leeson, said: " There's things that he did that were wrong but if you went into the back rooms of a bank there would be that type of thing going on".
Leeson, 22, who is battling cancer, is expecting to be released from a prison in Singapore next month after being held in custody since 1995. His marriage collapsed after he was jailed for six-and-a-half years. Lisa Leeson, who has since remarried, was not at the premiere. The film's executive producer, Sir David Frost, said the banker, who lost £860m, would get a cut of any of the profits from the film.
Stealing some of the limelight was model Jerry Hall and her estranged Rolling Stone husband Mick Jagger. Despite their divorce proceedings the couple proved their affection with a public kiss at the post-premiere party.