'Duchess' dazzles at UK premiere

Keira Knightley, star of new period drama film The Duchess, stole the show at the UK premiere of the film in London last night (September 3rd).

The 23-year-old actress wore a short blue cocktail dress by little-known French designer Alexis Mabille, teamed with high-heeled black evening shoes.

Knightley, who was accompanied by boyfriend Rupert Friend, said she was relieved to be free of the cumbersome costumes that the role required.

"I had to be sewn in each time I put a costume on. The clothes, the wigs and the hats were so heavy that it became painful to stand around," she commented, adding that it took two hours to dress her for the role each day.

The film sees Knightley appear as Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, an aristocrat who becomes trapped in a loveless marriage with the Duke of Devonshire, who is played by Ralph Fiennes.

Although the film has already been tipped for an Oscar, the publicity campaign has been criticised for including images of the late Princess Diana, who is the great-great-great grandniece of the 18th century aristocrat.

Knightley told BBC Radio 4 that the film is about Georgiana's life, not Diana and that she felt it does not need such references to make it interesting.