Who knew that veteran actresses Sharon Stone and Melanie Griffiths were friends? Now everyone does after the pair enjoyed a girly day together with the paparazzi in tow.

The veteran actresses outed their undercover friendship in a high-profile day out in Hollywood.

Just good friends: Sharon Stone stepped out with showbiz pal Melanie Griffiths for lunch at the Ivy and shopping in Hollywood yesterday

They're hardly in the first flush of their fame, but in scenes more reminiscent of Britney Spears accompanying Lindsay Lohan, Sharon and Melanie were followed by snappers on their day out as they enjoyed a spot of lunch at celeb haunt The Ivy, and shopped in Hollywood.

Both Stone and Griffiths appeared amused by the frenzied scene as they exited a store on trendy Robertson, both wearing huge sunglasses.
And a security guard laden with their bags was forced to help them through the melee.

Enlarge

Ladies who lunch: Melanie and Sharon pore over the menu at the Ivy where they lunched before shopping

Earlier, the two actresses lunched together at The Ivy before shopping at Les Habitudes in Beverly Hills.
Sharon, who celebrated her 50th birthday in March looked youthful in a canary yellow leather biker jacket, sequin vest and jeans, and huge visor-like sunglasses.
Griffiths also wore very tight jeans, but her beads and bouffant hair made her look rather mumsy.
They tried on a number of clothes, and Sharon was clearly keen to assist Melanie in choosing some new items.

Enlarge

Overloaded: Sharon and Melanie get help to carry their haul to their Bentley

Enlarge

Shopping buddies: Sharon shows off her basic instinct for style as she gives Melanie's gown the once over

Sharon, who has three children, Roan, seven, Laird, two, and Quinn, one, is preparing to return to screens in the action drama Streets Of Blood.
She stars alongside Val Kilmer, 50 Cent, Dylan McDermott and Brian Presley in the film, which is about police officers in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
She's also just finished filming comedy movie Five Dollars A Day, while comedy My Own Love Song and historical drama Dirty Tricks - in which she'll star opposite Brad Pitt - are both in the pipeline for the coming year.

Enlarge