It’s a crisp February day when Total Film catches up with Keira Knightley in London (“My favourite”, as she describes the capital). Her latest film, Misbehaviour, tells the true story of an activist group sabotaging the 1970 Miss World ceremony, which was watched by over 100 million TV viewers. “You really realise that it was such a ballsy move,” she grins. “Going in and disrupting something that is literally the biggest show on Earth.” It’s a feminist, socially conscious film, delivered with a light touch. It’s easy to see what attracted Knightley to the role of real-life historian and activist Sally Alexander.
The 34-year-old British star became one of the most famous people in the UK, practically overnight, starring in surprise 2003 hit Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl. But after the literal rollercoaster ride of that experience (and its sequels), Knightley has largely shied away from blockbuster material in favour of period pieces, indies, and, especially recently, dramas with pertinent messages (Colette, Official Secrets), choosing films by her own taste rather than an agent’s masterplan. “If it’s small budget, you have to hit the ground running, and just go for it,” beams Knightley. “You just have to dive in.”
Growing up in the public eye, Knightley faced all the negative attention that entails; she recently admitted to having a breakdown aged 22, when she was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. But despite allowing herself a couple of periods of respite, her work ethic has never slackened, and she has also spoken out on a number of issues.
Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av Total Film.
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Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av Total Film.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Back With a Vengeance - Sir Ridley Scott returns to the Colosseum with Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel to the greatest historical epic of this century. Total Film meets the director and cast to discover how Maximus' legacy is echoing in eternity.
Ridley Scott is not a filmmaker to repeat himself. It's a trait that's all the more remarkable when you consider how prolific he's been over the nearly five decades since his feature debut, 1977's The Duellists. Alien prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant are the only times he's gone back to the same world, and those films are radical departures from the original.
Bad Romance - Timestalker Alice Lowe falls in love with the wrong man time and time again...
Her antidote to that? Timestalker a dark not-quite-romcom set over the course of centuries. Her protagonist Agnes finds herself attracted to the same man, Alex (Dunkirk's Aneurin Barnard), in every lifetime as she's reincarnated in the 1680s, 1790s, 1980s and the 22nd century. As romantic as that may sound, there's a bit of a catch: 'He's sort of a dickhead. On the surface he's appealing, but under, he's not.'
McQueen & Country
A moment of national pride and terror comes to the screen with World War Two historical drama Blitz. Total Film speaks to writer/director Steve McQueen and his stars Saoirse Ronan and Stephen Graham about uncovering the truth and celebrating the triumph of a defining moment in modern British history.
'I WAS, AND AM STILL, SURPRISED BY EVERY OPPORTUNITY. I'VE BEEN CONTINUOUS AND FEEL AT THE TOP OF MY FORM' JEFF GOLDBLUM
Seth Brundle. Dr. Ian Malcolm. Grandmaster. Jeff Goldblum has played some titanic characters over his 50-year career, and is celebrating a half-century on our screens by going bigger than ever. First he played Zeus in Netflix show Kaos, and now he's the Wizard of Oz in Wicked. Total Film meets the man behind the curtain...
STICKY SITUATION
Seven years on from his last big-screen appearance, marmalade's biggest fan returns for Paddington in Peru. Total Film talks to director Dougal Wilson, actor Hugh Bonneville and the visual-effects wizards who make the magic happen...
BORN TO BE WILD
BROTHERS IS THE MOST SURPRISING ACTION COMEDY OF THE YEAR, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE JOSH BROLIN AND PETER DINKLAGE PLAY CRIMINAL TWINS. TOTAL FILM ROUNDS UP THE STARS TO TALK ABOUT DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES, THE 'HARD AS NAILS' COMEDIES THEY GREW UP WITH, AND MASTURBATING MONKEYS...
TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT Payal Kapadia's film shows the Mumbai you've never seen...
HUMPH DAY BOGART: LIFE COMES IN FLASHES
Behind every great man is a great woman. Or in Humphrey Bogart's case, four great women...
CALLING THE SHOTS
NEVER LOOK AWAY Lucy Lawless directs a bio-doc about a trailblazing camerawoman...
A FAMILY HEIRLOOM
THE PIANO LESSON Malcolm Washington's feature debut is all about family...