Keira Knightley

[LolaSvelt]

The reviews for Knightley have been positive.

Keira Knightley has always been given a much tougher time by the press in her home town of London, than abroad. Charles Spencer, writing in the Telegraph, recalled the last time Knightley appeared on the London-stage, in Molière’s The Misanthrope in 2009: “She got through it with her dignity intact, but often seemed strained and nervous, as well as alarmingly thin.” The British press have at times accused her of encouraging anorexia and being unworthy for stardom. But things may be slowly beginning to turn, because Knightley is treading the boards once more alongside Mad Men’s Elizabeth Moss, in The Children’s Hour. And, for once, the British critics loved her.

• BBC News arts reporter Neil Smith blogged that Knightley’s was “an accomplished, committed and ultimately moving performance that will win her both kudos and respect.” Smith also praised Tobias Menzies, one of only two male cast members in this 1934 play by Lillian Hellman which tells of teachers accused of having an illicit lesbian affair. Menzies plays a doctor caught between his loyalty to Knightley’s character and a creeping suspicion that she has something to hide. But, above all, Smith’s adoration was reserved for Bryony Hannah who played the malevolent school girl and who “steals the show”.

• Telegraph reviewer Charles Spencer, who was so critical of Knightley in The Misanthrope, revised his opinion altogether: “Keira Knightley has impressively won her theatrical spurs,” he exclaimed, awarding the play four stars. Her performance “displays confidence throughout, before rising in the final act to dramatic heights that are shattering in their intensity and deeply affecting.” The strained relationship between Knightley’s character Karen and her friend and colleague Martha (played by Moss) is “beautifully caught,” continued Spencer, “with … Moss giving a fascinatingly conflicted performance that is as subtle as it is strong.”

• Michael Billington, film critic at the Guardian, agreed that both Moss and Knightley “cut the mustard”: “they prove as potent a combination on stage as at the box office.” Moss’s is “an outstanding performance,” and she lends Martha “a dark secretiveness” which goes some way to prepare us for the violent turnaround of the play’s climax. However, while Billington was all for the staging, director (Ian Rickson) and actors in this play, he did not like the script because “nothing will persuade me that Lillian Hellman’s 1934 play is any more than well-intentioned melodrama.”

• It seems that the Daily Mail, perennial critic of Knightley, is the last man standing of the “she-can’t-act” brigade. Columnist Quentin Letts compared her to “one of those plucky amateur jockeys in the Grand National,” adding that Knightley’s role demands raw self-evisceration, which is “what a great actress would bring to it. Miss Knightley tries. By God, she tries. She turns in a performance of which many a journeywoman thesp’ would be proud. But is she a real leading lady? Is she a genuine stage star? Not quite.” Letts also judged that Moss delivered “with slightly more imagination but I could have done with more vocal variety from her.”

• But grumpy Letts aside, we turn to the industry bible The Stage, for the final word. The first thing that reviewer Mark Shenton noticed about the play was how expensive the seats were compared to others in London – the price pushed up by the starry names on the billing. But he added that The Children’s Hour is “directed with an unsparing, unflinching wash of feeling, beautifully designed by Mark Thompson and with lighting, music and sound … that all make their own seamless atmospheric interventions, this is commercial theatre not just at its most pricey but also best.”

 

[littlepaperstars]

The Daily Mail never like anything and don't even send someone who knows anything about theatre, it's a joke.

 

[kylenrose]

They did the exact same thing last year. Posted the first review of her in the Misanthrope and of course, it was bad. They are bitter, minus Bam- a fine columnist there- and it is so obvious now that no one takes them seriously. Someone even pointed out that the review seemed to be posted before the end of the play. So, no credit there. Everywhere that matters loved her.

Do we know where that black dress is from? So gorgeous.

 

[Empress Merel]

Didn't they start hating on her after she sued the Daily Mail or was that something else?
Nice black dress, she's been looking pretty.

 

[lawaldorf]

Her face is great. I think she can pull off any look. Love her short hair whether it's a bob or pixie.

 

[LolaSvelt]

Wearing Chanel Fall/Winter 2009.10 Haute Couture dress:

style

 

[Label Basher]

WOW Keira looks amazing in that Chanel dress. Love the hair too

 

[angelic]

Cosmo France - March 2011 Scans



Source: KeiraKnightley.Net

 

[Jenna-maria]

Originally posted by lawaldorf

Her face is great. I think she can pull off any look. Love her short hair whether it's a bob or pixie.

​

Yes, her face shape is perfect for every hairstyle!

I really loved her hair long and this lenght that it is now, it makes her hair look volomius and I can image it is quite easy to deal with
​

Originally posted by Empress Merel

Didn't they start hating on her after she sued the Daily Mail or was that something else?
Nice black dress, she's been looking pretty.

Daily Mail has never been very friendly toward Keira but after she sued them and won they started hating her much more.

She looks absolutely gorgeus at The Children´s Hour after party
I think I never say anything bad about her (and do I really even have to...?) she is just so gorgeus and talented. I aaaaaaadore Keira

​

 

[Dora]

Keira Knightley leaving The Comedy Theatre, London, Britain - 10 Feb 2011



isopix

 

[alicia753]

lovely outfit

 

[littlepaperstars]

Ooh the big ol Burberry is back again. I want that coat! Looks so cosy. She has a great collection of jumpers too. There's not many actresses who's everyday wardrobe I'd want to raid but hers is just about top of the list. I've heard talk again this morning that there is a possibility of The Children's Hour transferring to Broadway but I suppose it would all depend on Keira and Elizabeth's schedules.

 

[dwang82]

Gorgeous young lady!! Her face is so perfect!!

 

[tanii94]

Daily Mail has never been very friendly toward Keira but after she sued them and won they started hating her much more.

She sued over anorexia claims didn't she?

She's been looking stunning as of late. Just gorgeous.

 

[angelic]

One more from the press night



Source KeiraKnightley.Net

 

[Captain_Lydia]

Love her, love the clothes and very happy to see her getting positive reviews. About time they all realized she can act.

 

[tiffany]

The black Chanel couture dress she wore to the latest Children's Hour event suits her perfectly

 

[LolaSvelt]

getty

Ok, is she going to the BAFTAs? One of the floating heads looks like Keira (behind Neve Campbell). Oh nevermind, the name is way too short to be hers. I wonder who that is, though.

 

[diesanni]

It does look like her but I think they'd give her a first-row seat.

 

[alicia753]

isopix.be

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Keira Knightley after a performance of the "The Childrens Hour" at the Comedy Theatre, London. 12 February 2011.