"What this film shows is the danger when the line between fiction and fact gets blurred," she said.

"Magazine pictures, for example, are fiction. One person has done the make-up and hair, it’s somebody else’s clothes, it’s choreographed by someone else.

"In the media it’s very important to see different varieties of people - old, young, whatever size. As a woman myself I want to see variety. Hopefully that will happen more."

Keira played down her Oscar chances, saying: "As far as awards go, that’s neither here nor there. Atonement was a complete gift. I read the script and I cried. Any script that makes you cry is worth pursuing."

She said of her screen character: "I fell in love with Cecilia totally and utterly, partly because of the romance. I love a bit of romance."

Keira film to open Venice Festival - Juen 16 2007
Keira Knightley’s new movie Atonement has been chosen to open this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel, which also stars Vanessa Redgrave and James McAvoy, will be in contention for the Golden Lion.

It is only the second film from young director Joe Wright, 35, whose first was Pride and Prejudice.

"For the first time in its history, the opening film is the work of a young director," said festival boss Marco Muller.

"It is a film that the selecting committee has unanimously considered, in terms of emotive and visual power, to be even greater than some of the major films of many confirmed directors."

Atonement is already being tipped as an Oscar contender and its selection for Venice will boost its chances.

Previous winners include Brokeback Mountain and Mike Leigh’s Vera Drake.

Keira will be in Venice for the world premiere of the film on August 29.


Director asks for sexier Keira - June 4 2007
Keira Knightley might already be considered a sex symbol, but her latest director said he set out to increase her raunch factor.

The 22-year-old actress - who performed a lap dance in 2005 film Domino - will soon be seen on screen in the adaptation of Ian McEwan novel Atonement.

And Joe Wright the film’s director, told the Daily Express that he wanted to change people’s perception of her.

"I wanted to cast Keira as a woman, a sexual character," he said. "She’s only ever played girls before, even in Pride And Prejudice.

"There is an important scene with James McAvoy where she dives into a deep fountain to retrieve a broken vase. Keira emerges from the water and stands on the fountain’s edge. It was her idea to stand there for so long - but I quite liked it."

And it seems Keira took to her new characteristics rather well.

"There was another shot of her from behind but we left that out as it seemed a bit too rude," said Joe.

Keira not a fan of the rain - May 24 2007
Keira Knightley says she enjoyed filming underwater for the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean movie, because it was better than the scenes where she was stood in the rain.

The 22-year-old is making her third outing as Elizabeth Swann in At World’s End, which opens on May 24.

In the latest film there is a dramatic fight shot almost entirely in the rain, and the English actress reveals she felt much more comfortable while fully immersed in the water.

"I really liked it," she said. "I liked the underwater stuff a lot more than just being wet in windy conditions, which is actually what we were doing when we were on the beach, or most of the filming.