Emma Watson and Russell Crowe arriving at the premiere of Noah in London. Photo: PA Wire

Russell Crowe and Emma Watson made a splash in London on Monday as they braved a sea of fans at the premiere of Noah.

Watson, who was wearing a stunning white Ralph Lauren gown, confessed she felt a duty to all women acting out childbirth for the first time in the film.

The stars walked a stormy carpet in Leicester Square, but for once the water was just for fun as their welcome mat was printed to look like waves.

Fans flooded to see the cast of the film, including Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth and director Darren Aronofsky.

Crowe’s friend and Les Misérables co-star Hugh Jackman also made an appearance, to the delight of the crowds.

Watson, who plays Noah’s adopted daughter Ila in the film, admitted her character’s childbirth scenes were “really nerve-wracking”.

The Harry Potter star added: “You feel a responsibility to women in general to portray it in a way that was true to the experience and how tough it is.

“From what I’ve researched, it feels like a really life or death moment and I really wanted to make sure that came across.”

The controversial film has attracted mixed reactions from religious audiences but has already topped the US box office in its opening weekend.

Crowe said: “It has something for people of faith and people who don’t have faith. It’s an intense experience.

I think for people from different backgrounds, different parts of the story will resonate with them in different ways

“You come out of it wanting to have a chat. That’s the best part of a movie when that sort of thing happens.”

Connelly, who wore an Alexander McQueen dress with a feather skirt and floral bodice, agreed.

She said: “It’s a story from the Bible and the stories are timeless and the themes are universal. I think for people from different backgrounds, different parts of the story will resonate with them in different ways. I think a lot of things will resonate in particular with audiences. I know that it was very important to Darren that it feels quite pertinent to a lot of people.”

Arnofosky admitted he felt the story had a new relevance today, in light of global warming.

He said: “It’s one of our first cautionary tales. It says if you are wicked, then you will be punished. If you corrupt the earth, then you will be punished.

“And here we are and the UN just released a report saying that the water’s rising. So the irony is a little strange, to be here today on the day the report came out. So hopefully it will act like a cautionary tale for all of us in some way.”

Ray Winstone plays villain Tubal-Cain who tries to stop Noah.

The British actor said: “I don’t think he represents the wickedness of man, for me he represents humanity. And that’s when you have to step back and think, maybe there’s something wrong with us. Maybe there’s something in our genes that we have to rethink.”