Shining Knightley

When writers struggle for words to describe Keira Knightley, even the most articulate ones seem to channel a Harlequin romance. Exhibit A, The New York Times: “…you can barely take your eyes off her. Her radiance…suffuses film.” Exhibit B, Variety: “Looking every bit a star, [Knightley] steps up to the plate…with a luminous strength that recalls a young Audrey Hepburn.” And exhibit C, Time magazine: “Knightley radiates a mature fire through her fresh, patrician beauty.”

As over the top as the accolades sound, there is a reason for all the gushing. Simply put, Ms. Knightley, in plain view and in conversation, redefines the phrase utterly charming. And not in an always-says-the-right-thing, calculated-in-every-pleasantry kind of way. No, Knightley is authentically personable and really just one of those actors who is pleased to have made it. And it shows. Her confidence on the red carpet, her laissez-faire way of chatting up interviewers and her beyond-her-years knowledge of literature and film are impressive. And then some.

This fall, Keira will be running around the globe pressing two big pictures. The first is a Canadian-made romance named Silk—an adaptation of the novel by Alessandro Baricco, directed by Canadian François Girard—and it will be premièring at this month’s Toronto International Film
Festival (Sept. 6–15). Exquisitely filmed, Silk was shot in rural Italy and the quieter pockets around Rome and casts Knightley as a damsel from the late 1800s dealing with her absent husband—a silkworm merchant—who mysteriously travels the world for excessive periods of time. The second movie, Atonement, is another literary drama (inspired by the bestseller from Ian McEwan) in which she costars with James McAvoy. Suffice it to say, Keira is one busy star.

For the full story, be sure to pick up the September 2007 issue of FLARE

Love Keira’s cover look? Find out how to pull it off step-by-step at flare.com/beautyshot