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First Glance: The Duchess – See It or Skip It?

PopSugarUK — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell and Dominic Cooper star in The Duchess, a new movie based on the biography Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman.

Set at the end of the 18th Century, it tells the dramatic story of Georgiana's life, focusing on her incredibly unhappy marriage to the Duke, her trials dealing with his live-in lover Bess, the attraction she feels for the future PM, and her popularity with the people.

The film's out on September 5, and I want to know what you think. So take a look at the trailer and let me know if you'll see it or skip it?

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PopSugar UK's Must Haves For September

PopSugarUK — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:00:00 -0700

This month I'm looking forward to various acting treats. There are two big films hitting our cinema screens on 5 September, and then the excitement of live performance as a major US actor takes to the West End stage. I'm also excited for the DVD release of three movies. To see what I'll be buying a ticket for, and putting in my shopping trolley, just hit "Start".

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Keira And Costars Tell Us All About The Sex in The Duchess

PopSugarUK — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:38 -0700

Recently I had the amazing opportunity to meet the stars of The Duchess and hear all about the role sex plays in the movie, from the practicalities of filming sex scenes to the sexual politics of the period. Here's an excerpt of the Q+A with Keira Knightley (who plays the eponymous Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire), Dominic Cooper (who plays her extra-marital love interest, Earl Grey) and Hayley Atwell (who plays the third person in Georgiana's marriage, Bess Foster). Come back to PopSugar UK later in the week to see what else the gang had to say about the film, including the Diana connection. I'll also bring you my review before the film's release on 5 September.

Keira was wearing a black maxi dress with a pussy bow neck and beautiful ruffles, with her hair back and her fringe sweeping across her forehead. Dominic in his shirt and suit jacket looked as gorgeous as when he chatted about Mamma Mia!, and Hayley kept it crisp and stylish in a white shirt. Speaking of clothes...

What was it like to get in to the costumes?

KK - We had to be sewn in to some of them, which they would have actually been, sewn in and cut out.
DC - Which is very difficult in a moment of passion to undo at a rapid pace without looking ridiculous [laughter] Sorry!
KK - I can’t add anything after that!

To find out what Dominic wore in his sex scene, plus Keira and Hayley's thoughts about the sexual relationship between their characters, read more

Keira, the love scene with Dominic was pretty raunchy given that you keep your clothes on – is it more difficult or easier to do a sex scene without …

KK - … taking your clothes off? Hmm. I don’t know! I hadn’t thought about it. Erm. Yes? No? What would be the right answer to that?
HA - I always think it’s what you don’t see.
KK - I think it’s much sexier not seeing, I mean as a personal preference.
DC - I wasn’t told that [laughter] I’ve never been told that!
KK - No, you were told just to get your kit off.
HA - What were you wearing?
KK - He was wearing a nappy!
DC - I was told to put the nappy on and get on with it.
KK - Oh I’m so sorry.
DC - You chose it! There was a selection of things…
KK - There wasn’t, you’re lying! During the sex scene I was luckily fully clothed and he got to wear a skin-coloured nappy.
DC - Sellotaped to the inner sanctum! [laughter]
KK - I left that out! Yes, they’re never the best things. You are meant to be very supportive of each other but he did come out in a skin-coloured nappy and I just completely lost it. I’m so sorry I just couldn’t stop laughing and Saul did come over and say “Come on, just pull yourself together, this is serious work”. But he’s standing there in a skin-coloured nappy, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do! [laughter]

Hayley, it seemed the relationship between Bess and Georgiana started in one place and ended in another.

HA - I think that’s a credit to the complexities that Bess and Georgiana had within their relationship. It starts off with you thinking, what are Bess’s intentions here, is she a social climber, is she trying to get in to the household to further her status or to get custody of her own children?

But then I think it’s proof that when she spends the rest of her life with them, there’s a lot more genuine affection between them than was initially implied, and that her intentions at the beginning were possibly misunderstood. With Bess it felt like she’d become the mediator between the Duke and the Duchess and could understand them in a way that they couldn’t understand each other, because of at times their clashing personalities.

To what extent do you think the sexual aspect of the relationship between Bess and Georgiana was underplayed?

HA - With the sexual awakening scene, we wanted to be delicate enough with it to show an aspect of their relationship that wasn’t sexual. This was a time when you wouldn’t label it, there were no homosexuals, they didn’t have a label. I think marriage then, especially within aristocracy, was one based on more of a business deal than it was based on love or passion, so you were able to have your love affairs elsewhere.

With women teaching women how to enjoy themselves and their body sexually, it's something that shows how beautiful their relationship was, but you could also say it was partly Bess having a sexual power over G, as well as other forms of power, so it’s complicated.

What are your thoughts Keira?

KK - I thought she answered that very well! I was fascinated by the relationship between them. When I read the script for it, the first thing about Georgiana that really struck me was just how incredibly lonely this woman was; constantly surrounded by so many people and yet entirely alone. I decided she was somebody that just tried to grab on to any kind of love and attention that she could possibly get.

The friendship with Bess comes at a point when she’s been living with this man that doesn’t talk to her, they basically have no relationship for a number of years, and all of a sudden this woman comes in who’s interested in her, who wants to talk to her and teach her things, and who shows her love.

So I thought the sexual part of it – and it’s very much Bess teaching Georgiana that there is enjoyment to be had in an act that I think she’d never realised there was any pleasure in whatsoever – I thought it was a really interesting turn within the relationship and the fact that it’s a woman. I decided that Georgiana did love her very much, which is why the betrayal of Bess sleeping with the Duke is so absolute.

Keira, what do you think the film can teach teenage girls today about love and sacrifice?

KK - Oh Christ, don’t get married at 17 I think is probably what it teaches! [laughter] To a Duke, yeah! I think she was incredibly young, and incredibly romantic, and impressionistic, and she certainly finds out that the romance and the reality of the situation is very different.

So I think it’s a story of a fairytale going incredibly wrong. I’m not quite sure what that will teach teenage girls about marriage at 17, maybe, wait! Don’t!

The three actors were having a great time giggling with each other, but it was also clear that they feel passionately about the film and the more serious issues that it raises. The question of the Diana connection is coming up in a future installment, my girl FabUK will be bringing you their thoughts on the wigs and dresses, and I'll also give you my opinion on the film itself, so stay tuned!

Photos courtesy of Pathe

Keira's Coy In The Cab

PopSugarUK — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:32:00 -0800

Keira Knightley was coy for the cameras as she was out in Soho last night for a friend's birthday party. She's been in town for London Fashion Week and looked striking as usual as she left the restaurant Kettering with a group of friends in a cab. Keira will have been celebrating as her movie The Duchess won an award for Best Costume Design at the Oscars on Sunday - she certainly did look exquisite in those amazing dresses.

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Few Fab Words About Costume in The Duchess

FabSugarUK — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:00:54 -0700

Keira Knightley has been working her socks off over the past few weeks promoting her latest movie The Duchess. If you've missed the interviews over at Pop UK then make sure you jump over there to see what the cast had to say about sex in the movie, and the Princess Diana connection.

But what we're really interested in is the costume! We already provided you with a brief insight and a few sketches but here is what Keira Knightley and Hayley Atwell had to say on the amazing costumes designed by Michael O'Connor.

The film is out across the UK today so make sure you get out to see it.

Which of the styles is more you Keira: the football kits of Bend It Like Beckham or the period costumes of The Duchess?

KK: Well, I have no plans to go around London in eighteenth century costume! But equally not football shorts either. The costumes were completely fantastic and obviously she was a very famous fashion icon. The opportunity to work with Michael O’Connor, who is a tremendous talent, was amazing. They weren't particularly comfortable. It was very simply the fact that you need to wear a corset and can’t catch your breath, so any emotions are much more heightened. You can’t calm them down. So they were very helpful in the portrayal of character for me.

To find out about the problems moving around in costumes read more

How long did it take you to get in to the costumes?

HA: Was it two and a half hours?
KK: Yes, and we had to be sewn in to some of them, which they would have actually been, sewn in and cut out.
HA: Going to the toilet was quite difficult.
KK: Going to the toilet was very difficult. Actually I didn’t fit in to the toilet in the trailer [laughter] which is quite difficult in itself. Why do I want to share that publicly?
And what about getting in to cars?
KK: Yes, all the cars with the wigs. Actually we would walk into the car like that [sideways] it was quite difficult.
HA: They were very heavy, there were so many layers to them and so much detail. We were having to find different gestures and postures to sit in that we could sustain for long periods of time without hurting ourselves. They were absolutely extraordinary and you think; that was how they dressed every single day. At the end of the day, because the wigs themselves were so intricate and beautiful, you couldn’t rip them off as I often wanted to do [laughs]. You had to unstitch yourself, so it took almost as long to get out as to get in.

Photos courtesy of Pathe

Love it or Hate it: Keira Knightley

FabSugarUK — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:13 -0700

Keira Knightley is in town this week to promote her latest movie The Duchess in which she stars as the first real style icon; the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana. Keira went for dinner last night at Scotts in a navy blue wrap top and chinos. Whilst I essentially love her outfit, I can't quite get over her choice of footwear. She appears to be wearing heeled slip-on black mules. What do you think of her ensemble?

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Keira Kisses Guillaume

PopSugarUK — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Keira Knightley was paying costar Guillaume Canet some lip service in New York yesterday as filming for their new movie Last Night continued. Though she wasn't smiling as much as a last time we saw her on set, I'm sure it can't have been too much of a hardship kissing her handsome leading man! Keira has also had some rather fantastic news recently, as she's been nominated for best actress at the British Independent Film Awards for her role in The Duchess!

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Keira's Got Boyfriend Time Before Festival Time

Molly — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:01:18 -0700

Keira Knightley's gorgeous long hair fell into her face a bit as she left Scotts in London last night with her boyfriend Rupert Friend. Speaking of those locks, Keira's recent Vogue cover wasn't your favorite but her new movie The Duchess seems to be more appealing. Keira's taking a moment off from her hard work schedule, but this Fall she'll start making the rounds promoting that movie including a stop at the Toronto Film Festival. Whether or not Keira is full of smiles on her way out of the club, we do love to see her when she's in good spirits on the red carpet.

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Vogue Viewing of The Duchess

PopSugarUK — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:13:02 -0700

The Duchess had a special screening in New York last night, in association with The Cinema Society and - how fitting for Fashion Week - Vogue magazine. As I've described, the costumes in the movie are amazing, but last night both Keira Knightley and model Coco Rocha were working pretty gothic looks on the red carpet. Keira's famous pout was out in full swing as she posed with editor Anna Wintour, until friendly face Dominic Cooper arrived and made her giggle - BellaUK has all the goss on how to get her smoky eyes! Other famous guests included Susan Sarandon and her daughter Eva Amurri, Valentino and David Schwimmer.

For more photos of Keira, Dominic and guests at the event, just read more

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TIFF Gives VMAs a Run For Its Money

PopSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:00:03 -0700

The MTV VMAs may have been the talk of the town, but the Toronto Film Festival proved to be just as star-studded. Jennifer Aniston looked fabulous as usual in her mini black dress for Management, while Keira Knightley looked like royalty once again on the red carpet for The Duchess. Brad Pitt showed off his Burn After Reading and talked about how little sleep he's getting these days taking care of six kids. Dakota Fanning wowed us in her black number, looking so pretty and grown-up at the premiere of The Secret Life of Bees with costar Jennifer Hudson.

Mark Ruffalo pulled double duty for Blindness with Julianne Moore and The Brothers Bloom with Adrien Brody, while Anne Hathway looked gorgeous continuing promotions for Rachel Getting Married. Of course, it wouldn't be a festive weekend without a few parties, and Kate Hudson, Diddy, and Lindsay Lohan were just a handful of stars who had plenty of fun without any movies of their own to endorse.

To see over 70 more photos including Queen Latifah, Evangeline Lily, Paris and Benji, Alicia Keys, and tons more, just read more.

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Images include: Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore, Adrien Brody, Danny Glover, Evangeline Lily, Gael Garcia Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh, Dominic Monaghan, Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson, Benji Madden, Petra Nemcova, Tim Robbins, Sir Richard Branson, Renée Zellweger, Gerard Butler, Zac Efron, Jeremy Piven, Claire Danes, Tristan Wilds, Diddy, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, Ed Harris, Kiera Knightley

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