Peter O'Toole dashed all rumors of poor health by showing up Thursday night — looking dashing and chipper, no less — at a fete for "Venus" at the London Film Festival. Admittedly, he appeared a bit frail, too, but also frisky and happy to be there.

Never known to miss a round of free drinks with pals, O'Toole attended a cocktail reception held at the National Gallery, which was the setting for a key scene that gave the film its title. In it, O'Toole's character takes the sassy young tart he lusts after (Jodie Whittaker) to see a painting that makes him think of her: Velazquez's portrait of Venus.

O'Toole and Whittaker hung out a lot at the gala, laughing and chatting with costars Richard Griffiths and Leslie Phillips plus guests like London mayor Ken Livingston. Then O'Toole attended a screening of "Venus," seeing it for the first time. Immediately afterward, he embraced director Roger Michell, congratulated him enthusiastically and told the audience how much he loved the film.

This was the first public outing for O'Toole since he canceled his scheduled appearance at the Toronto Film Festival at the last minute in early September, blaming an attack of "gastric nasties." Since then he's conducted phone interviews with the L.A. Times and Esquire and held a satellite press tour from London with members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in Los Angeles. He will skip the premiere of "Venus" at the American Film Institute festival in L.A. in early November, but plans to spend significant time in Oscarland in January and February.

Check out the new trailer for "Venus" —CLICK HERE! (Yikes — it includes a ringing endorsement quote from me! Yes, it is "a fabulous film!")

Photo: In "Venus," O'Toole takes his naughty nymphet to the National Gallery of London to show her his favorite painting, "The Toilet of Venus," which reminds him of her. Last night they returned to the gallery where O'Toole made his first public appearance in months, seeing his potential Oscar film for the first time. Yes, he loved it. Next, will academy members feel the same?
(Miramax)