The Duchess
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While we wish Keira Knightley would expand her repertoire a bit and act in a movie that actually takes place in modern times, we can't disagree with the notion that the actress performs well in period pieces.

Her latest, The Duchess, opens this weekend. Here are excerpts from an interview Knightley gave ComingSoon.net about the film:

ComingSoon.net: What was your response when you first read The Duchess script and did you know anything about the character before reading it?
Keira Knightley: I'd never heard of her before, no, so the script came through my door with three very large huge white ostrich feathers attached, with a gold ribbon, and I thought, "Oh, I don't care what it is. That's fantastic." Then I read it, and I know I just thought that she was fabulous; I thought she was a fascinating character. This idea of this woman who's politically so influential, and this huge fashion icon, and such a force of nature, and yet privately is somebody who is so intensely vulnerable and incredibly lonely. I thought, you know, the combination of those two things were sort of fascinating.

CS: Were you worried at all that you'd be able to pull it off?
Knightley: Oh, yeah. I mean, I think there's always that worry. I think you have to face failure, and particularly if you're an actress or an actor. Sometimes things aren't going to go the way that you hope they will, but that's part of what's so exciting about the job, you know? I don't really want to do things that I don't find challenging, so yes, there's always a huge fear that it's going to be awful, and I'm going to be crap, and all the rest of it, but you might as well go for it anyway.

Keira Knightley takes on a role based on real events in The Duchess.

Both the actress and the movie are garnering Oscar buzz, as Knightley recently sat down with MoviesOnline to discuss the project:

What was your response when you first read the script?  Did you know anything about The Duchess?
I’d never heard of her before, no.  So the script came through my door with three very large huge white ostrich feathers attached, with a gold ribbon.  And I thought, “Oh, I don’t care what it is.  That’s fantastic.”  And then I read it.  And I know I just thought that she was fabulous.  You know, I thought she was a fascinating character.  This idea of this woman who’s politically so influential, and this huge fashion icon, and such a force of nature, and yet privately is somebody who is so intensely vulnerable and incredibly lonely.  And I thought, you know, the combination of those two things were sort of fascinating.

Could you identify with the notion that even in the 1700s, it appeared that the public was obsessed with so-called celebrities.  Do you identify with the kind of parallels that this film is making with today?  Especially you, being in the public eye?
I certainly don’t look for autobiographical work.  So I wasn’t looking to draw any parallels with myself whatsoever.  I thought, yes, it was interesting.  I thought that celebrity culture was a modern phenomenon.  It’s fascinating to find out that it was around 300 years ago. 

I sort of thought it was kind of the least interesting aspect of the story, in a funny kind of way, though.  I mean, I thought that the way that she used it, the manipulation of image and everything, I thought that was very interesting.  What it was saying about the kind of mental state—that as the marriage started collapsing, she needed more and more and more attention from complete strangers, was an interesting sort of – this sounds like a psychological aspect to the character.  But no, I wasn’t trying to draw any parallels to myself.

Breaking news: In The Duchess, Keira Knightly stars in a period film.

So, if you liked Atonement... and Pirates of the Caribbean... and King Arthur... and Pride & Prejudice, you'll love this movie!

Read and response to our complete The Duchess review now!

Beginning in two weeks, Keira Knightley is The Duchess.

Yes, it's yet another period piece for this beautiful star. This time, she’s going full-on Victorian, as the star strapps on a corset for a scandalous royal love triangle as the Duchess of Devonshire. 

Here's a  clip from the film:

Shockingly, Keira Knightley is starring in another period piece. This one is called The Duchess, and it's actually earning Oscar buzz.

We've listed a handful of memorable lines from the movie below. We'll add more after the film comes out.

Remember: you can always browse through the latest movie quotes from the world of cinema in our constantly updated section each and every day!

The Duchess of Devonshire: All my life, I've been fighting my way upstream.

Duke of Devonshire: I love you in the way I understand love.

Lady Spencer: All of London is talking.
Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire: Oh, let them talk!

Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire: I fail to comprehend how far we are fully committed to the concept of freedom.
Sir Peter Teazle: Freedom in moderation.
Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire: The concept of freedom is an absolute.

Duke of Devonshire: This will be the mistake of your life.
Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire: No, I made that many years ago.

The Duchess of Devonshire: You can't ask me to battle nature in my own heart.