Thandie Newton smoulders in a starring role as one of the world's best-known sex symbols - Cleopatra.

The actress dressed up as the legendary seductress to launch this year's Virgin Media Shorts competition, which champions undiscovered UK film talent.

Her Walk Like An Egyptian-look was inspired by screen siren Theda Bara, who played Cleopatra in a 1917 movie of the same name.

The 37-year-old, a judge in the competition, was captured on camera by celebrity photographer Lorenzo Agius.

She said: "The history of the short film and its early stars isn't something that's well known or documented, so to kick off this year's Virgin Media Shorts we wanted to do something that would commemorate one of the early legends like Theda Bara - she was a true, avant-garde screen heroine. Her spirit and passion is in essence what I'll be looking for as a judge in this year's Virgin Media Shorts entries.

"I'm honoured to be part of the judging panel alongside industry greats and I'm excited to be helping unearth what could be the next big thing in British film-making."

Other judges include the director of Moon, David Bowie's son Duncan Jones, and Four Weddings And A Funeral director Mike Newell.

In its third year, Virgin Media Shorts gives filmmakers the chance to have their work showcased to millions of people across the country on 214 cinema screens, TV, mobile phones and online.

The competition encourages filmmakers to upload their movies for the chance to win a prize of up to £30,000 film funding, and the opportunity to work with Virgin Media to make their next short film.