[MaryJane]

Hollywood beauty Natalie Portman has lavished praised on London's restaurants, after hearing about the British capital's bad culinary reputation.

The V For Vendetta actress believes London's eateries have improved rapidly since she first visited the city as a teenager and loves the wide range of international cuisine on offer.

She enthuses, "The food in England has improved."

However, with the poor exchange rate for US dollars to UK pounds, Portman admits she doesn't enjoy shopping in one of the world's fashion capitals as much as she used to.

She says, "London's not the best place to shop right now. Us poor Americans can't afford it."

femalefirst.co.uk