Keira ’Incredibly Insecure’ - Sept 7 2007
Keira Knightley has opened up about feeling terrible insecurity when she began acting - as a result of nasty comments about her.

The Atonement star told the Daily Express: "When I was 17, 18, 19, I felt incredibly insecure. I went through a period of thinking I looked weird and skinny, and that’s 10 times worse when you’re being written about.

"When it first starts happening, I defy everyone not to look at every review that says you’re rubbish, and not to look at every picture that says you’re wearing the wrong dress."

The 22-year-old added that it was particularly bad when she was cast for the part of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride And Prejudice.

"Pretty much everyone said, ’You’re not right for it’," she recalls.

"It was like, ’Come on! It’s the girl from Pirates! She can’t act!’. I think I hid in work because I didn’t want to deal with any of it."

Keira wows fans at premiere - Aug 5 2007
Keira Knightley has delighted fans at the UK premiere of her new film Atonement by going on a walkabout to sign autographs for her admirers.

The 22-year-old star was in London’s Leicester Square before the showing of the movie at the Odeon Cinema.

Keira, who is being tipped for an Oscar nomination for her role as Cecilia Tallis, wore a silver-grey Rodarte dress, slashed across the front, and a tiara in her hair.

Directed by Joe Wright and adapted from the wartime novel by Ian McEwan, it is being hailed as one of the strongest British films in years.

It is in official competition for the Golden Lion award for best film at the Venice Film Festival and has been warmly received by critics.

The story tells of Cecilia Tallis, an upper class beauty whose fledgling love affair with the housekeeper’s son, played by James McAvoy, is destroyed by a tragic misunderstanding.

James also went over to greet his fans and sign autographs.

Keira said: "I think we are all proud of the whole film, mostly we are proud of Joe Wright, the director."

She said: "I find him an incredibly exciting director, and he’s given me two of the best characters I’ve played."

Asked if she had a preference for any particular kind of role she said: "No, I think the whole point is to change. I’m really lucky and I get the opportunity to change, and you can’t ask for much more than that as an actress."

Asked about her chances of winning an Oscar, she said: "The fact that the film is in the same sentence as the word Oscars means we’ve done a good job already. If it doesn’t get a nomination, it doesn’t take away from how proud I am."

Keira unveils film in Venice - Aug 30 2007
Keira Knightley has unveiled her new movie Atonement as she led the British charge at the Venice Film Festival.

The 22-year-old stars in the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s wartime novel and her performance is already being talked up as Oscar-worthy.

She plays Cecilia Tallis, an upper class beauty whose fledgling love affair with the housekeeper’s son (James McAvoy) is destroyed by a tragic misunderstanding.

Atonement has been chosen as the curtain-raiser for the Venice Film Festival and is being hailed as one of the strongest British films in years. It is in contention for the Golden Lion for best film.

Much has been made of Keira’s slender figure, which she showed off in a figure-hugging navy and white dress.

But the actress insisted that appearances can be deceptive.