O'Donnell appeared in the film Beautiful Girls

New York chat show host Rosie O'Donnell has already contributed $1m (�682,648) to help those affected by the hi-jacking incidents.

She gave the money to the American Red Cross the day after the 11 September attacks.

Shocked

O'Donnell's spokeswoman said that she, too, hopes to encourage others.

"She hopes that other people follow and give what they can, whether it's time or money," she said.

Allen is promoting his film The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

The 65-year-old director praised President Bush for his handling and understanding of the situation.

"It does seem that the president, whom I was certainly very critical of before he was elected has got a good grasp on the problem," he said.

Allen said that he was in New York during the attacks and described his shock at the "senseless murder" of 5,000 people.

But he added that he always knew that the city was not "immune" to terrorism.

Allen is well known for his New York based films like Manhattan, Annie Hall and Mighty Aphrodite.