Claire Danes at the Shopgirl UK premiereClaire Danes at the Shopgirl UK premiereBless Claire Danes - she really is a true professional.

She refused to cancel her appearance at the London premiere of her latest movie, despite only just hearing that her best friend back in America had died.

Overcoming her personal tragedy, the brave 26-year-old smiled her way down the red carpet, looking impossibly gorgeous.

However, just before her arrival at the London Film Festival premiere of Shopgirl, she had repeatedly burst into tears between TV interviews, according to the Daily Mail.

Claire, who shot to fame when she played Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo back in 1996, said:

"My best friend in America has just died.

"I found out only last night. I'm so upset, I can't even talk about it."