Keira Knightley in a scene from 'The Duchess.' (Nick Wall/Paramount Vantage)
Keira Knightley had a few reasons to like her character Georgina Spencer. “I was completely fascinated that you have a huge public persona and a huge fashion icon, and yet in her private life she was incredibly vulnerable… I liked the fact that she wasn’t perfect. I liked the fact that she was full of contradictions.”
Her character was exotic not only in her behavior and views but also with the way she looked and dressed her hair, and in one scene in the movie, Georgina’s hair caught fire—quite literally. Keira Knightley commented on the elaborate hair design.
“[The costume designer] was making these bird cages and then putting hair on top of them, and they were rather heavy”.
As for the ending of the film and Georgina’s decision to stay with her oppressive and abusing husband for the sake of her children, Knightley shares: “I think, she really didn’t have a choice. My character has to compromise hugely, but I think if you speak to any parent, they would actually say she has made the right choice.”
Ralph Fiennes plays Georgina’s husband, Duke of Devonshire. “Of course, on the first reading of the play he could be played as a villain… and I thought that it would be fun to play against it. I think he is insensitive, but I don’t think he is intentionally cruel.”
When asked for definition of love, Fiennes found nothing to say, but was quick to name Michelle Obama, when asked about a contemporary female role model: “I think, she should be in the White House”.
One of the intriguing facts about “The Duchess” is that Georgina Spencer happens to be the ancestor of Diana Spencer, or Princess Diana. When asked about the connection, director Saul Dibb said “to me, it was about making a film about Georgina. Her story was so fascinating, so strong, she is such an interesting character, but I am not naïve enough to not know… that people drew some parallels as well”.
The Duchesss will open in the United States on September 19, 2008.
