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But in Angelina Jolie's case, her arms attracted all the attention.

While the 32-year-old looked the picture of glamour in bright yellow dress and over-size shades, the rope-like size of her veins startled fellow-diners at a Hollywood restaurant.

Miss Jolie is thought to be six months pregnant, possibly with twins, by her partner Brad Pitt.

Her body-builder-style veins are believed to be the result of her punishing exercise regime.

Dr Chris Steele, resident GP on ITV's This Morning, said: "Prominent veins in the arms means there is very little fat under the skin, which is not something you would expect during a pregnancy.

"We are more used to seeing it on athletes, sports people and those that exercise heavily because they have very low body fat.

"Women do get varicose veins in their legs when they are pregnant, because the weight of the baby is on the legs."

Miss Jolie is a self-confessed fitness fanatic and has often trained intensively to perform her own stunts for films such as Tomb Raider.

And though it was "in the middle of the event," the mother of four didn't miss a beat as she talked about her two visits to Iraq and her new initiative, Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.

Jolie, 32, says EPCC will be "a center that helps raise awareness and coordinate all the various efforts of people working towards education for children of conflict."

Even after an exhausting couple days in the nation's capital, Jolie, who brought sons Maddox, 6, and Pax, 4, with her, shows no signs of slowing down. She'll continue her work in D.C. all week before re-joining Brad Pitt and their daughters Zahara, 3, and Shiloh, 1.

Most of all, Jolie says, she's savoring this period – unexpected kicks and all – adding, "It is a very special time in our lives."