Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch arrived with his new leading lady - wife-to-be Sophie Hunter - at the premiere of his latest film.

The couple appeared together on the red carpet in their first official outing since announcing their engagement in the Times.

Cumberbatch, 38, is promoting new movie The Imitation Game, which has sparked speculation that he could notch up an Oscar nomination for his role as Second World War Enigma codebreaker Alan Turing.

At the film's New York premiere, the British actor put his arm around the smiling theatre director as they made their red carpet debut.

Hunter, 36, who first met Cumberbatch when they appeared together in the 2009 film Burlesque Fairytales, looked elegant in a long, black dress with embroidered blue and green flowers.

Cumberbatch's co-star Keira Knightley was also at the premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre, along with other cast members Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Mark Strong and Allen Leech.

An announcement about the couple's news was made public in a small notice in the Times newspaper earlier this month.

They previously went public with their relationship when they were pictured together at the French Open in the summer.

Talking about disappointing some of his fans by getting engaged, Cumberbatch recently joked on US show Live! With Kelly And Michael: "They're smart, they'll get around to the idea ... Your ovaries do still have use, let me tell you!"

His appearance in New York came as comedian Ben Elton complained that the pop and theatre worlds were in "the grip" of an elite.

Several stars, including David Morrissey, Stephen McGann and veteran actress Julie Walters, have previously voiced concerns that the acting business was becoming the preserve of the wealthy.

Watch the trailer here -