Keira Knightley Interview 5 by Martyn Palmer Previous Q I remember you talking about how uncomfortable the costumes were on Pirates. How are they on this? A No, we haven't got any of that, thank God. In this Guinevere doesn't actually come in until about half way through the film - it's that same kind of vibe as in Cleopatra when Richard Burton, who is the love interest doesn't arrive until half way through. So when we do find Guinevere she has been tortured and she's a bundle of rags. And then we have this gorgeous transformation and suddenly she's got a dress and all clean and pretty (laughs). And then you don't know she is a warrior until all that is revealed, too. So we have a dress, very easy to move in, no corsets, nice and flowing, nice and free and you can run around. I love it! And then she is in warrior gear and - all leathered up with axes and bows and arrows. Great! Q Do you get to do any of the battle scenes? A Oh yeah! I get to do all of it. You should see my fight scenes. I'm not quite sure how to put this politely, but I fight in a bitch pack! (laughs) Yes. I mean, looking at my size it's going to look a bit odd if a six foot four Saxon - and  we seem to be fighting Saxons a lot of the time - comes up to me and I kill him quite easily. It would look stupid and we are all really aware of that and I don't want it to be the girly thing with the girl who can suddenly kill all these ten foot people. So we decided it would be a really good idea if a lot of the women who are all around my size and build sort of fight in a pack a bit like wolves, and then you see how they can overpower a big man and how they can win. But basically she gets down and dirty and there's none of that honour on the battlefield, she will do absolutely anything to win, which is great, really cool. And it gives something more interesting to play, and something we've never seen with a Guinevere - she is ruthless, which is great. Q There's a very strong British cast on this... A Which is great. I have to say on Pirates as well we were lucky, because I think for some reason the British thing is beginning to be trendy again - great for me. Because on Pirates we had Orlando (Bloom)  obviously, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport. On King Arthur, it's all British or European, there aren't any Americans in it. Which for a big budget Hollywood movie is incredible. You know, it's a really, really exciting thing to be part of. And I guess we don't have the big huge star name but everybody is here because they are the best actor for the part. And again, that's really exciting because it makes it more real and it makes it more organic. Actually, I just remembered - we've got one Australian as well.. We've got a lot of actors with theatre backgrounds and it feels like that, because it's a lot of rehearsal, a lot of discussion and all that kind of thing. And again that's great on a big film like this. Dare I say it, it feels like a rather artistic experience on a very big film. No, I shouldn't say that (laughs). Hush! It's very exciting to have a budget like this and still feel you have an input on the  story. Q You sound  like you're having a great time? A I am. I love doing the stunt stuff, or as much as I can. I'm one of the lads here! (laughs) It's very strange. Honestly, I really feel like one of the boys. And I really like doing all the physical stuff - the training with the weapons and everything. And you have to do it, but it pays off when it comes to the scene. It's been a blast. But the thing I like most of all is that, yes, it is a big action adventure film but there are well drawn characters in here too. Next		Home Interviews Antoine Fuqua Interview King Arthur Interview Arv Grewal Interview Asia Argento Interview Behind the Scenes of "War of the Worlds" Bernie Goldmann Interview Clive Owen Interview Dakota Fanning Interview Dennis Hopper Interview George A Romero Interview Greg Nicotero Interview The Hulk Press Conference Ang Lee Press Conference Ioan Gruffudd Interview John Leguizamo Interview Kathleen Kennedy Interview Keira Knightley Interview