Jessica Alba has revealed how excited she was to let out her inner tough girl for her role in the new Sin City sequel.

The gorgeous mother-of-two resumes her role as stripper Nancy Callahan in the noir-style crime thriller, based on Frank Miller's comic books, but this time shakes off her damsel in distress mantel.

Speaking on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, where she posed for pictures alongside her husband Cash Warren, Jessica said: "I really got to do a lot of stuff and I wasn't necessarily just being saved by Hartigan, not that there is anything wrong with Bruce Willis coming in and saving the day, it's every girl's dream.

"But it was cool to see how she gets there, it doesn't happen overnight, people have to go through it to come out the other side and find their strength."

The 33-year-old, who was dressed in an electric blue strapless gown, added: "I'm so proud of it, it's the coolest movie I've ever been in and the most fun role I've ever played because it is so different from the beginning to the second one. It's making cinematic history; you have never seen anything like this. Visually and artistically it is really pushing the envelope."

Jessica was joined on the carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre by co-stars Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolin, Jamie Chung and Rosario Dawson , who sported a black leather dress to the premiere and said she was delighted the film was being seen as empowering to women.

"I think it's so interesting that 10 years ago, after we did the first movie, women would ask if this was contrary to my women's rights activism. I remember having to argue what it was we were doing, but 10 years later people are saying, this is a women's film, women are kicking butt, this is a chick flick and I am high-fiveing everyone.

"These women were floating on to set, completely in their bodies, completely in their power and taking it to the next level."

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For is released in UK cinemas on August 22.