Star Pals on Screen and Off

By GARY FLOCKHART

Sienna and Keira strike up a firm relationship

WITH two of Britain’s hottest young stars in tow, there will doubtless be a few fellas clambering for a better view when Edge of Love film director John Maybury is joined by headliners Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller on the red carpet in Edinburgh next week.

The film, which receives its World Premiere on Wednesday night at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, sees Matthew Rhys in the role of hard-drinking Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and tells the story of his wartime love for both childhood sweetheart Vera Philips (Knightley), and free spirit Caitlin (Miller).

Now one of the world’s most in-demand young actresses, few have enjoyed such a phenomenal rise as 23-year-old Knightley.

First, her role in low-budget effort Bend It Like Beckham signalled her talent. Then, her major picture starring debut, Pirates Of The Caribbean, entered the all-time Top 20 of box-office hits. She followed these up with Love Actually, a cutesy rom-com from Richard ‘Notting Hill’ Curtis. And still she was only 18.

Since then, her impressive CV has continued to grow, roles in top- grossing movies such as Pride and Prejudice and Atonement cementing her reputation as a hot acting property.

Miller, on the other hand, is best known as a socialite and has been spotted on the arms of a string of the world’s most famous men.

But since her role as Edie Sedgwick in 2006′s Factory Girl, she has turned heads within the film industry and her latest role in The Edge of Love could be the one that finally cements her reputation as a serious actress.

A last-minute replacement for Lindsay Lohan, who originally landed the part but dropped out just two weeks before filming started, Miller relished the opportunity to work alongside Oscar- nominee Knightley.

“I loved the idea of working with Keira,” says the 26-year-old, who was born in New York but moved to England when she was one.

“I was pretty nervous about acting alongside her because my part required me to put on weight,” she continues. “I just stuffed my face for the months we were in production. It wasn’t hard for me. I had huge fry-up breakfasts, pasties for lunch and lots of toasties.

“Then I had to face seeing myself alongside Keira, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. Luckily she is also one of the nicest.

“We totally bonded on the movie and it was amazing to find a girlfriend in this business. In Hollywood they don’t know what to make of us because we both drink and smoke and eat.”

Having put on the pounds for her part in The Edge of Love, Miller is undergoing a tough fitness regime for her role in forthcoming action flick GI Joe, which she is filming now.

“I’m so not perfect,” she says. “My top half looks pretty good at the moment because, for the first time in my life, I’m exercising, but you should see my bum. It wobbles when I walk.

“Seriously, I have a lardy arse. I have days when I wake up, look in the mirror and go, ‘yuk’. And I totally have bad hair days – why do you think I own so many hats?” she laughs.

Miller goes on, “The big thing I’ve discovered, the big secret, is that it’s all about how happy you are. It’s the ultimate thing. People forget your flaws and imperfections if they see you’re happy. And I’m incredibly happy right now. Probably happier than I’ve ever been.”

For her own part, Miller’s co-star Knightley gets to sing in the film, displaying vocal prowess to rival fellow actress-turned- singer and pal, Scarlett Johansson.

But though she puts in an impressive performance, she says shooting her new movie was the most frightening experience of her life – admitting that she found the role incredibly tough.

“I did lessons with a voice coach because I can’t sing,” she explains. “It was live. There were 100 extras and John Maybury was like, ‘Now you’re going to sing’.

“I’ve never been so frightened in my life,” continues Knightley, who has been voted the sexiest movie star of all time, trouncing screen icons Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe and beating Angelina Jolie to top the Empire magazine poll. “I never want to [sing] again. I don’t want to be a rock star.”

In the film, written by her mother, award-winning playwright Sharman Macdonald, Knightley sings Blue Tahitian Moon, as well as renditions of Drifting And Dreaming and Maybe It’s Because I Love You Too Much.

Unlike Miller, who to date has struggled to be taken seriously as an actress, Knightley made a smooth transition from child star to Hollywood star after her impressive turn in Bend It Like Beckham led to a part in the box-office-topping Pirates Of The Caribbean.

“Suddenly I was kissing Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom and bang, there you go, instant bloody stardom,” laughs Knightley, whose first big acting role came when she was nine, in the romantic feature A Village Affair, before being cast in the television film Coming Home with stars Peter O’Toole and Joanna Lumley.

“I’d always wanted to be an actress, always dreamt of it, but I don’t think you’re ever quite prepared for being a movie star,” she adds.

Miller may not have the impressive film credits of her co-star, but she knows all about living under the glare of the media spotlight.

From her first moments of fame she’s had to face intense media scrutiny – first as actor Jude Law’s latest beau, and now for her party lifestyle and countless celebrity boyfriends.

But Miller reckons her tabloid caricature is wide of the mark. “I think the media do create an image, a tabloid image and a tabloid persona that sells their newspapers that is very different to the person that I am,” she says.

“It used to bother me, but the people that matter – people in the film world and my family – will hopefully know it is not true.

“That’s all I can hope for,” she says earnestly. “People who buy tabloids can believe what they want and there’s nothing that I can do about it. No matter what I do, they will only believe what they want to believe.”

Miller feels she is fighting a losing battle in terms of her public image, then, though she is determined not to let the newspapers and gossip magazines ruin her acting career.

“At times it has felt upsetting and hard to deal with, but when you look at what else is going on in the world around you it really is not important,” she says. “There was a time when it was just silly. There have been times when I’ve been so fed up that I’ve wondered if it’s worth it.

“But I always wanted be an actress and don’t want to do anything else – I can’t let these photographers drive me from what I love.”

(c) 2008 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.