In a refreshingly candid interview, acclaimed British actor Keira Knightley has shared a series of personal anecdotes, from her proficiency with a sword to a surprising prediction for West Ham United, all while promoting her debut children's book.
From the Silver Screen to the Garden
When asked about skills she's adopted from her roles, Knightley didn't hesitate. "I'm pretty good at sword-fighting from doing three years on Pirates," she revealed, referencing her time in the *Pirates of the Caribbean* franchise. Her martial training started young, with roles in *Princess of Thieves* at 15 and *King Arthur* at 18. This summer, she impressed a group of ten-year-olds with her archery skills, scoring a bullseye in the garden. However, her football skills didn't fare as well, with her own daughter questioning what happened after watching *Bend It Like Beckham*.
A Ghostly Encounter and Iconic Roles
Knightley also ventured into the paranormal, recounting a chilling experience at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. "I did see a ghost," she stated, describing a man in a burgundy shirt with black hair who vanished when he turned. Despite the sighting, she maintains she doesn't believe in ghosts. Reflecting on her iconic roles, she shared that the famous green dress from *Atonement* was "so fragile" it had to be constantly remade, leaving her thoroughly sick of it by the end of filming. She also expressed a wish to have worked in the 1930s or 40s, drawn to the "fast machinegun dialogue" of films like *His Girl Friday*.
Sanity, Art, and an Unusual Hobby
The actor disclosed her unique method for learning lines, which involves drawing "old men’s faces with very detailed lines" while listening to recorded scripts. This meditative state helps her, as a dyslexic person, get the words off the page. The hobby has become so well-known that her husband and friends now collect pictures of old men's faces to give to her. This artistic practice directly influenced her new venture, I Love You Just the Same, a children's book she has both written and illustrated.
A Surprising Take on West Ham's Season
In a surprising turn, Knightley also offered a tactical analysis of West Ham United's prospects. Assessing the squad before Graham Potter's sacking, she pointed to new signings and the return to fitness of key players. "I'm going to be quietly confident and say we are going to finish 12th," she predicted, showing a keen interest in the club's midfield resolution and overall table position.
I Love You Just the Same, written and illustrated by Keira Knightley, is published by Simon & Schuster.
