From The Straits Times    |

Keira Knightley: I looked like street urchinKeira Knightley shocked a director when she arrived at a meeting looking like a “street urchin” as he thought she’d be a “princess”.

The actress has worked with director Joe Wright on several films, including their upcoming release Anna Karenina.

Their first meeting didn’t go well as they were both tired, but when they were introduced for the second time they quickly bonded.

“He says it was because he was expecting me to arrive as some Hollywood princess but then I turned up in very ripped jeans looking like a street urchin,” she replied, when asked what turned their relationship around.

“I do remember very clearly at the end of our meeting him shouting down the road at me, ‘Keira, pull your trousers up,” and me turning around and just shouting, ‘F**k off!’ I think we knew we were going to be fine.”

Knightley thinks many people will be surprised when they see her portraying the title character in Anna Karenina, which is based on the book by Leo Tolstoy.

Anna is an aristocrat who has a passionate affair and is far removed from many of Knightley’s roles.

“God, the amount of kids I’ve had, the amount of weddings I’ve had, the amount of times I’ve died. I don’t think I thought of it like that at all,” she replied, when Empire magazine asked if she’s moving from girl to womanly roles.

“It’s certainly a womanly role. Girly and Anna Karenina most definitely do not match.”