AUTHOR JK Rowling looked simply spellbinding in her latest magical creation.

Dressed in a flowing chiffon gown, the creator of Harry Potter was tanned and radiant as she stepped out at a charity fundraiser.

And the 41-year-old writer even put actress Anna Friel in the shade. Anna, 30, was sporting an almost identical dress at the star-studded gala.

It seems JK is a wizard with clothes as well as words. Unlike Anna, she made the shoulder straps do a disappearing act on her low-cut gown.

Her younger fashion rival appeared to opt for safety rather than daring.

Anna Friel in the same gown last night

Sir Elton John and Rod Stewart, accompanied by his fiancee Penny Lancaster, were among the celebrities at the dinner in aid of the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation.

Hampton Court Palace provided an imposing backdrop to the lavish £1,000-a-head dinner, hosted by former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev to raise funds for the foundation, established in memory of his late wife to help find a cure for cancer in children.

A glittering array of guests included Sir Bob Geldof, Sir David Frost, Ralph Fiennes, Steven Berkoff, Simon and Yasmin Le Bon, Minnie Driver, Kim Cattrall, Sadie Frost, Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell.

Also at the bash was 17-year-old Harry Potter star Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the films.

The guests were treated to performances by Sir Elton and the Scissor Sisters.

Mr Gorbachev, whose wife died of leukaemia in 1999, spoke movingly about how the proceeds from the event would be used.