Madonna and Sharon Stone in Cannes: Older really is wiser

Cannes Spotlight: Madonna and Sharon Stone

Pop star Madonna and Sharon Stone pusses greet each other on the stage at the start the annual amfAR party in Cannes

Madonna and Sharon Stone prove again that when it comes to red carpet glitz and glamour, older really is wiser.

The dynamic duo pulled out all the stops last night at the annual amfAR party in Cannes - with very different looks.

And with a combined age of 99 between them, the leading ladies showed the younger stars at Cannes they still have what it takes when it comes to setting the red carpet alight.

Video: Cannes spotlight - Madonna, Sharon Stone, etc.

Hollywood's leading ladies Madonna and Sharon Stone stole the Cannes limelight for a second night running

Sharon, 50 wore a sexy leopard print Cavalli gown and draped herself over a red Porsche for the assembled photographers.

Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt dazzles in a revealing apricot dress while Eva Herzigova shows that simple is sexy in a strapless black gown

Meanwhile Madonna - who is one year younger - opted for a more demur and mature look in a long sleeved pink Christian Dior dress.

After dazzling at Cannes on Wednesday night, the two stars again stole the limelight, despite the presence of sexy stars who are well below half their ages.

Madonna is approaching her 50th birthday in August, while Sharon already welcomed her sixth decade in March.

Actress Natalie Portman wowed in an elegant off the shoulder dress

On Wednesday, Madonna lapped up the attention at the world première of the singer's Malawi AIDS orphans documentary I Am Because We Are.

And when asked whether she would be adopting another child from Malawi and replied: "Yes, I hope so."

In 2006, Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie adopted David Banda, now two, from Malawi.

Yesterday, the singer compared the criticism they received at the time to birthing pains.

Video:Madonna e Sharon, sfida a colpi di fascino

She said: "I was meant to have him and it was a big struggle and I didn't understand [the criticism] but in the end I rationalised that when a woman has a child and has a natural childbirth she suffers an enormous amount.

"I went through my own birthing pains ... in the end it made me stronger so I can't complain."

Meanwhile following in Madonna's choice of dress colour Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt sizzled in a stunning and very revealing tight pink number.

Actress Natalie Portman looked a picture of elegance in an off the shoulder puffy white dress.

Petra Nemcova is a model of beauty as she poses for photographers at Cannes

Also attending the star-studded event was American rapper P Diddy, Cliff Richard and Denis Hopper.

Dita Von Teese opted for a bright purple dress by Gautier couture while Donatella Versace was a special guest on Madonna's table during the charity evening and wore a pale green dress by her own label.

On Wednesday, Madonna and Sharon's gowns and looks drew several parallels.

From their choice of black gowns, their pink lips and smoky eyes down to their darkened roots, onlookers were startled by the similarities between the two women.

Burlesque artist Dita von Teese stands out in her plunging purple ensemble while Italian designer Donatella Versace wore a green dress of her own label

Their remarkably youthful complexions isn't the only thing they share.

Both are mothers of three and have gone down the adoption route of parenthood - Sharon has three adopted boys, while Madonna attracted controversy for her adoption of David.

Christian Slater couldn't keep his arm off stunning girlfriend and Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon

Both women have been married twice - albeit one, Madonna, is still wed to her second husband.

Sequins and superstars: Madonna and Sharon Stone combine their star power to co-host the annual amFAR fundraiser

Double knockout: Madonna and Sharon look incredible on the red carpet as they smile and joke for the cameras

After a failed marriage to actor Sean Penn - who is head juror at this year's festival - in the 1980s, Madonna married British director Guy Ritchie in 2000 and the couple have a seven-year-old Rocco together, as well as Madonna's daughter Lourdes, 11, from a previous relationship.Sharon split from second husband, San Francisco Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein in 2004, and was previously wed to film producer Michael Greenburg for three years in the mid 1980s.

Madonna's 1993 flop thriller Body Of Evidence, co-starring Willem Dafoe, was widely compared to Sharon's most famous role, opposite Michael Douglas, in Basic Instinct the previous year.

After stepping out earlier in the week in kinky boots and leather gloves, Madonna went for the more refined look in a stunning Chanel black and white beaded gown with fringed sleeves and trim.

The Material Girl, 49, made her entrance at the screening with Guy, who looked remarkably glum next to his excited wife.