Keira Knightley takes on ‘Duchess’ mantle
Celebrated British actress Keira Knightley will play the role of the glamorous and controversial Georgiana, the duchess of Devonshire in The Duchess. The film will be directed by Saul Dibb who is best known for Bullet Boy (2004) - a gritty look at gun crimes in East London ghettoes.
Based on the bestselling biography "Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire" by Amanda Foreman, the film will follow the breathless life of the 18th century Duchess who was forever in a whirl of alcohol, drugs, indiscreet love affairs, gambling and politics. A Spencer by birth, Georgiana was an ancestor of Princess Diana. Georgiana was also the inspiration for Lady Teazle’s character in Richard Sheridan’s acclaimed play The School For Scandal.
The film is being co-financed by Pathé and BBC Films. Michael Kuhn’s Qwerty Films will produce the film, which is based on an adaptation of the book by Jeffrey Hatcher (Casanova, Stage Beauty). Pathé will distribute the film in the UK and France and will look after international sales. Shooting begins in October.
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