NEW YORK - What attracted Angelina Jolie to star in "The Tourist?"

"Venice and Paris," the actress joked to The Hollywood Reporter at the NYC premiere of her new film Monday night. "And I've never played a lady really before -- I've played a version of a girl. I found it a real big challenge to play somebody that is extremely European, elegant and very pink with little bows and things that were very foreign to me."

Jolie, who attended the premiere with longtime boyfriend Brad Pitt (who avoided the press line on the red carpet, quipping to THR, "I'm off tonight!"), said her first introduction to co-star Johnny Depp was in this movie.

"We just got put together in the film and we both like each other's movies, but had never met," said Jolie, who donned a white angora Versace dress. "And we met and we talked about kids for the first hour and France for the second and had a good laugh. We really enjoyed working with each other in the film and I hope that comes across."

Depp, who lives in the French countryside with Vanessa Paradis and their children, had a tip for Jolie about the country: " lots of good wine!" Jolie joked.

Jolie says she hopes her film - due out in theaters Friday - "is a pleasure."

"I hope it's one of those movies that has a little bit of everything, that doesn't take itself so seriously, has a good time, and has a bit of romance and a bit of mystery, and a lot of fun, and a lot of different characters," she told THR.