keira knightley and natalie portman phantom menace

Keira Knightley recalls appearing in Star Wars: "I was in the background, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open"

Knightley played Padmé's body double in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Did you know that Keira Knightley was in a Star Wars movie? No, we're not mistaking the British actress for Daisy Ridley (though a lot of people have pointed out that they look similar ). We're talking about Knightley's role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, in which she played the body double to Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman).

Speaking to our sister publication Total Film magazine , Knightley was asked about her time in that fabled galaxy far, far away, as well as her experience in the Pirate of the Caribbean movies. Here's a small extract from the huge career interview, available in the new issue of Total Film, which is out now. Meanwhile, Knightley will next appear in Misbehaviour, which reaches cinemas Friday, March 13.

TF: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was one of your earliest film experiences. What do you remember about that? 

Knightley: I mean, I was 12. I literally don’t remember... I remember the headdress being so heavy, it gave me a headache. I really remember the headache from one of the headdresses. And I remember being in the background for such a long time that I’d actually fallen asleep. I was just sitting in a chair, and I was in the background, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I really remember that. But apart from that, I don’t remember anything else about it. 

Was the first Pirates Of The Caribbean an overwhelming experience? 

The first Pirates, I was 17. I don’t remember it that well. Overwhelming? Yeah. The problem is, I don’t really know what I remember, and what I just talked about. I know I said that I felt like I was going to get fired. Which sounds like me. But I don’t really remember that feeling. I think I just felt like I was really lucky. I didn’t anticipate that that would mean that I then would just have an amazing career in Hollywood films afterwards. That’s not where I thought my career was going to be. [On the first one] we got left quite alone, because Johnny Depp hadn’t had a commercial success, and a pirate movie hadn’t worked in probably generations, and it was based on a Disney theme park ride. No one was particularly going, “This is going to be a big hit.” So actually, relatively speaking, it was quite a chilled-out set. But when it got to 2 and 3 after that one had made like a billion dollars or whatever it was, I think that’s when it was suddenly a very different thing.

Total Film  also spoke in detail to Daniel Craig, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Lashana Lynch, Ana de Armas, Rami Malek, and more about No Time To Die. There are two different covers available on newsstands now! Check them both out below:

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I'm the Deputy Editor at Total Film magazine, looking after the long-form features there, and generally obsessing over all things Nolan, Kubrick and Pixar. Over the past decade I've worked in various roles for TF online and in print, including at GamesRadar+, and you can often hear me nattering on the Inside Total Film podcast. Bucket-list-ticking career highlights have included reporting from the set of Tenet and Avengers: Infinity War, as well as covering Comic-Con, TIFF and the Sundance Film Festival.

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Star Wars is Proof that Yes, Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman Look Exactly Alike

Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman have been two successful Hollywood actresses for many years now. But believe it or not, people couldn’t tell them apart at one point. Needless to say, their joint appearance in Star Wars didn’t help, that’s for sure.

Yes, it’s true Knightley and Portman look alike. But are they related? Even more, what part did they play in the Star Wars universe? Here’s everything there is to know in that regard.

Was Keira Knightley Natalie Portman’s Double?

Keira Knightley played Natalie Portman’s double in the legendary Star Wars: Phantom Menace in 1999 . Some folks are under the impression that Knightley and Portman look exactly alike and that Star Wars is the basis for that. It goes without saying that it’s true that they bear some resemblance to one another. But there are a good number of differences that can be cited, and enough of a contrast between them that’s noticeable.

No one can ignore one big discrepancy, however, and that’s the fact that Knightley had a role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace , whereas Portman has never been seen in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Let’s face it; both women are widely known for their roles in these franchises. However, Knightley played a limited role in The Phantom Menace as Sabe, the bodyguard to Queen Amidala.

Are Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman Related?

Though it would be cool if Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman were related, unfortunately, that’s not the case; they’re definitely not related. Even more, they’re not the same person as some people think. The two are a few years and inches apart to start with. Knightley is a full three inches taller than Portman and at least four years younger.

Additionally, Knightley’s debut was only a year after Portman’s. For Portman, it was Leon: The Professional , and Knightley’s was the film, Innocent Lies . A huge difference between them has a lot to do with the type of energy they bring to a role. Natalie Portman tends to be more serious, more down to earth, and more grounded. On the other hand, Keira Knightley is more often than not the rebellious sort that seeks to go against the grain and do whatever it takes to defy the established order. Her role in Domino brought that out very well, as did her role as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates franchise.

Portman isn’t averse to rebelling, but her characters tend to require order, stability, and a sense of reason to them that Knightley’s don’t. Additionally, she seems to dance around the idea of stability rather than using it as a means of balance. Portman, on the other hand, definitely dips into the more reasonable, logical side of life more often than not.

Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman Definitely Look Alike

Yes, the pair definitely look alike, but they’re not twins, neither are they related. Knightley is a bit taller than Portman but also has a slightly wilder look to her. Natalie Portman seems like she’s more of a homebody than Knightley, even if the opposite is true.

Their facial features and their body types are proportioned completely differently. Even the way they stand, smile, and move is different. For anyone not familiar with their work, it may be difficult to tell them apart. But there are a lot of differences once a closer look is taken.

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A lover of great stories and epic tales, Tom is a fan of old and new-school ideas. As a novelist and a screenwriter, he enjoys promoting one story or another. With 18k+ articles and 40 novels written, Tom knows a little something about storytelling.

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One Response

They definitely look similar and I have mixed them Up a few times. I’m more or less dyslexic when it comes to the 2 of them saying one instead of the other lol. I think Natalie Portman has become better looking with age. Kiera Knightley is still a beautiful woman but Natalie Portman at her age now is absolutely stunning in my opinion. Is one of them still dating the guy who hates the beach?

Keira Knightley In ‘Star Wars’: What Her Role Was & If She’ll Ever Return

The British actress was featured in many scenes alongside Natalie Portman for 'The Phantom Menace' -- but she's not exactly sure which character she played!

Keira Knightley had a role in one of the biggest Star Wars blockbusters — but she’s not exactly sure who she played! While her memory may not be clear, the rabid fans of the iconic sci-fi films will undoubtedly recall the British beauty taking on Sabé, a handmaiden and body double of Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo (played by Natalie Portman ) in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. “Was I not Padmé?” Keira sincerely asked during a discussion with ComingSoon.net in 2020. “Oh, I was Sabé,” she hilariously corrected herself.

“You know, I saw the film once when it came out.” she continued. “I think I was 12 when I did it, and it came out, and I saw it the year after, and I’ve never seen it again. So I played Sabé, and she didn’t die? I hope she lived a long and happy life somewhere on a planet far, far away. I’m sure she did.”

According to  the official Star Wars databank , “Sabé is the most important of Queen Amidala’s royal retinue of handmaidens. During crisis situations, Sabé and Amidala switch roles. Sabé becomes a decoy, disguised as the Queen, while Amidala adopts a simple gown of a handmaiden, and goes by her less formal name of Padmé Naberrie. When in this role, Sabé and Padmé secretly communicate with subtle signals as to not divulge their true identities. During the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo, Sabé posed as the Queen on several occasions.”

Keira Knightley solo tenía 13 años cuando salió en Star Wars pic.twitter.com/O3qOZZ8fZF — ali kenobi 🐝 (@aliisparrow) March 25, 2022

Kiera’s role in the galaxy far, far away came far, far before she was a household name. Phantom Menace was three years prior to Bend It Like Beckham , which made Hollywood heavyweights take notice of Kiera for her star-turning performance as soccer-loving teen Jules. A year later, she had signed on for 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl playing the part of Elizabeth Swan. With the Star Wars film being one of her first forays into movie-making over two decades ago, it is understandable why she may have little memory of it.

“I mean, I was 12. I literally don’t remember,” Keira shared to Total Film . “I remember the headdress being so heavy, it gave me a headache. I really remember the headache from one of the headdresses. And I remember being in the background for such a long time that I’d actually fallen asleep. I was just sitting in a chair, and I was in the background, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I really remember that. But apart from that, I don’t remember anything else about it.”

With the Star Wars universe recently taking over movie theaters, streaming services and video games, Kiere also reflected on the possibilty of reprising her role as Sabé. “Reprising the character I can’t even remember the name of?” she told ComingSoon.net. “No, there hasn’t… There hasn’t. There should be, though. I’m sure her life has been long and interesting. But no, no, there’s been no discussion.”

Why Keira Knightley Convinced Her Mom To Let Her Join Star Wars

Pirates of the Caribbean star Keira Knightley had to convince her mom to let her join the cast of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as Padme's decoy.

Keira Knightley recalled her audition for the role of Sabé, Queen Padmé Amidala's handmaiden, in 1999's Star Wars: The Phantom Menace . At only 12 years old, Knightley's parents tried to convince her not to join the cast, because they believed she wouldn't enjoy the filming process. But in an interview with the Reading Eagle , the Pirates of the Caribbean star revealed she wouldn't give up hope, considering her appreciation for the franchise.

"I said, 'No, I've got to do it. It's a Star Wars film, for heaven's sake,'" Knightley said. Her parents finally relented and allowed her to appear in The Phantom Menace . However, their prediction ended up coming true. But what occurred to cause the young actor to cry throughout her Star Wars experience?

RELATED: Keira Knightley Laments Her Sex Symbol Status After Pirates of the Caribbean

Why Did Keira Knightley Cry on the Star Wars Set?

"I cried every single day I did that film," Knightley recalled, "because the costumes were so uncomfortable." Despite the tears, the actor was grateful for the opportunity. Knightley had only made her screen debut in A Village Affair five years before Star Wars. The Phantom Menace 's production crew chose Knightley for the role because of her resemblance to Natalie Portman, who played Padmé. In fact, even the actors' mothers couldn't tell them apart after hair and makeup.

While Knightley had the chance to alongside the likes of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, her breakthrough performance didn't arrive until the 2002 soccer film Bend It Like Beckham . A year later, she became a household name for playing Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. However, Knightley departed the Disney franchise following the third film.

RELATED: Why George Lucas Removed Star Wars' Strangest Jedi Master

Keira Knightley Has Complicated Feelings About Star Wars

In an interview with Coming Soon , Knightley couldn't recall if she played Padmé or Sabé. The actor recounted how she was only 12 years old and saw the film the year after it came out in theaters. "And I never saw it again. I hope she lived a long and happy life somewhere in a planet far, far away," she said.

While Sabé only appeared in The Phantom Menace, Padmé's decoy and handmaiden in the Royal House of Naboo , returned in the canon comic books. Not only did she investigate Padmé's death, and join a group of Naboo loyalists called the Amidalans, but she also met Darth Vader himself numerous times. She even figured out his identity, proving the character was as smart as the actress who played her.

Keira Knightley Can’t Remember Who She Played in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

By dan selcke | sep 30, 2020.

Before Keira Knightley played Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise—or Elizabeth Bennet in 2005's adaptation of Pride & Prejudice —she appeared in 1999's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace as Sabé, a body double for Natalie Portman's Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo, who is used to throw those who would harm the queen off her trail. It was a small role, but hey, it’s Star Wars , so it gave Knightley some early experience in big budget moviemaking—not to mention a bit of exposure.

But apparently, making the movie wasn’t the most thrilling experience for the then-12-year-old. Earlier this year, Knightley admitted to nodding off during production, since she was in the background of so many shots doing nothing. Now, when ComingSoon.net reminded her that her character survived the prequel trilogy while Padmé did not, it seemed Knightley didn’t remember the difference between the two. “Wait a minute. Who did I play? Was I not Padmé?” She continued:

"Do you know, I saw the film once. I think I was 12 when I did it and it came out and I saw it the year after. And I’ve never seen it again. So, I played Sabé and she didn’t die? OK!"

Hey, it’s nice to get good news, however late it comes!

Of course, since she’s a Star Wars character, Sabé has an extensive backstory and has gotten up to quite a lot in the extended universe, but she was pretty much just a prop in The Phantom Menace , so we can understand why a pre-teen Knightley wasn’t overly interested.

ComingSoon.net also asked Knightley if she has ever had a request to return to the character. “Reprising the character I can’t even remember the name of? No, there hasn’t,” she laughed.

Star Wars Can Bring Back A Major Phantom Menace Character - And Showcase Padmé's Legacy At Last

Posted: November 16, 2023 | Last updated: November 16, 2023

• Star Wars has the opportunity to bring back Keira Knightley's character Sabé, who served as Padmé Amidala's body double, in a key role during the Dark Times.
• The Amidalans, a rebel cell formed on Naboo, could be featured in Andor Season 2, which explores the formation of the Rebel Alliance, potentially including a meeting with Mon Mothma.
• Bringing back Keira Knightley's Sabé would not only be an exciting Easter egg, but it would also allow for the exploration of Padmé Amidala's legacy and showcase Knightley's acting skills.

Star Wars has the perfect chance to bring back Keira Knightley's Sabé, Padmé Amidala's body double in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace . George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy introduced viewers to the beautiful planet Naboo, and to its young ruler, Natalie Portman's Padmé Amidala. The Queen of Naboo, Padmé was served by a group of dedicated handmaidens who swiftly proved key to her safety. One of them, Keira Knightley's Sabé, served as a body double to serve as a target for Padmé's enemies.

Star Wars has turned Sabé into a key player during the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. Sabé and the other handmaidens gathered together at Padmé's funeral in the aftermath of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith , and they sensed something dark and dangerous about this new Galactic Empire. They established a group known as the Amidalans, an early rebel cell operating on Naboo - ironically, the homeworld of Emperor Palpatine himself. The Amidalans would operate throughout the Dark Times, even targeting Darth Vader himself shortly after the events of The Empire Strikes Back .

Related: How To Watch Star Wars Movies In Order

Andor Season 2 Can Introduce The Amidalans

Tony Gilroy's Andor Disney+ TV show is set during the Dark Times, and it is showing the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Many of Andor 's main characters are rebel leaders, including Stellan Skarsgård's Luthen Rael, Genevieve O'Reilly's Mon Mothma, and Forest Whitaker's Saw Gerrera. Andor season 2 will presumably tell the story of some rebel cells coalescing into a united force under Mon Mothma's leadership. This makes it highly likely other rebel cells will be featured - and it's quite possible the Amidalans will make their way into live-action .

For months now, there have been recurring rumors Andor season 2 will return to Naboo. Significantly, back in June there were reports the crew had headed to Hever Castle in England, used when shooting "The Waterfall Sequence" on Naboo in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace . It is, therefore, quite easy to imagine a scene in which Mon Mothma met with the Amidalans, although there's no evidence they ever formally joined the Rebel Alliance.

Star Wars Could Finally Bring Back Keira Knightley's Sabé

This wouldn't just be another Star Wars Easter egg; rather, it would be an opportunity for Lucasfilm to bring back Keira Knightley herself. Sabé remained a key player in the Amidalans throughout the Dark Times, so she would logically be part of any meeting with this particular rebel cell. It would be thrilling to see Knightley return to Star Wars , showing a different version of the same character and demonstrating her acting skills. Recent Star Wars TV shows have brought back other, more prominent characters from the prequel trilogy, and this would be the perfect opportunity to do the same for Knightley's Sabé.

Andor Season 2 Could Cement PPadmé's Rebel Legacy

The last few years have seen Lucasfilm pay homage to many stars from the prequel trilogy, but there is one character whose legacy has been almost completely unexplored; Natalie Portman's Padmé Amidala. That's largely because Padmé's story came to a tragic end in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith , when she was killed by Darth Vader. This naturally means stories set during the Dark Times or The Mandalorian era can't feature her. Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker can return as a Force Ghost in Ahsoka , but there's no way Padmé can do the same.

It's past time for Star Wars to stress Padmé's legacy. A deleted scene from Revenge of the Sith sees her plant the seeds that would grow into the Rebel Alliance, providing crucial guidance to future rebel leaders Mon Mothma and Bail Organa; Lucas may have cut this scene, but it has been referenced in canon. Andor season 2 could easily build on this by introducing viewers to the Amidalans , revealing she inspired a rebel cell on her very homeworld - and Palpatine's own.

A return for Knightley's Sabé would reinforce this, because she was the handmaiden closest to Padmé, the one who literally served as her body double. Sabé remained loyal to Padmé long after the Queen's death, and that very loyalty showcases just how inspirational Padmé's character really was. This would be a smart approach for Andor season 2, explaining the show's return to Hever Castle, and it would be a smart move for Star Wars .

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Keira Knightley forgot who she played in Star Wars: ‘I saw the film once'

Actor starred in the blockbuster when she was 12 years old, article bookmarked.

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Keira Knightley appeared to forget her role in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace , after being questioned about it during an interview.

Speaking to ComingSoon.net about her new movie, Misbehaviour, Knightley was asked to recall one of her earliest roles.

As the journalist spoke about the character Padme, a visibly confused Knightley asked: “Wait a minute… who did I play? Was I not Padme?”

The interviewer then informed Knightley that she had in fact played Sabe, one of Queen Amidala’s (Natalie Portman) most important handmaidens, who later becomes a decoy.

“Do you know, I saw the film once when… I think I was 12 when I did it, and I saw it the year after, and I’ve never seen it again,” Knightley said. “OK, so I was Sabe and I didn’t die.”

Film fans might be inclined to compare the incident to Gwyneth Paltrow’s notorious revelation that she’d forgotten she was in Spider-Man: Homecoming .

However, as Knightley points out, she has a slightly better excuse given the number of film roles she’s played in the 21 years since The Phantom Menace was released.

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In March, she revealed that the headdress she wore for the role was so heavy that it gave her a headache.

“And I remember being in the background for such a long time that I'd actually fallen asleep,” she said.

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“I was just sitting in a chair, and I was in the background, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. I really remember that. But apart from that, I don't remember anything else about it.”

Her latest film, Misbehaviour, features an all-star cast including Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessie Buckley, Keeley Hawes, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Manville, Rhys Ifans and Greg Kinnear.

It follows the story of the Women's Liberation Movement, which disrupted the Miss World Pageant in the 1970s.

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Keira Knightley

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Keira Knightley (born March 26 , 1985 ) played Queen Amidala's handmaiden Sabé in Star Wars : Episode I The Phantom Menace .

Knightley was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award in 2005 for her role in Pride and Prejudice . In 2007 , she was nominated for a BAFTA Award and another Golden Globe Award for her role in Atonement . She is well-known for her role as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

• 1 Biography
• 2 Filmography
• 4 Notes and references
• 5 External links

Biography [ ]

Knightley was twelve years old when she was cast and during Star Wars : Episode I The Phantom Menace filming in August 1997 at Leavesden Film Studios , England . The completed film was released two years later in the Summer of 1999 , when she was fourteen years old. The actress is credited in the film's end credits as "Kiera Knightley," which is the standard spelling of the name. However, the actress's mother, Sharman McDonald, unintentionally misspelled her daughter's name with the "e" before the "i" during her birth registration in 1985. [ source? ]

Knightley was chosen to play Queen Amidala's decoy in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace because of her close resemblance to Natalie Portman , who played the Queen. Many people (including their mothers) had trouble telling them apart during the filming of The Phantom Menace . [4] Her voice was dubbed over with Natalie Portman's voice after filming; Natalie recorded both the Amidala and Sabé voices in post-production.

Filmography [ ]

Sources [ ].

• Star Wars : Episode I The Phantom Menace

• Star Wars in 100 Scenes
• Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – The Official Collector's Edition (as Keira Knightly)

Notes and references [ ]

• ↑ Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual History, Updated and Expanded Edition
• ↑ Queen Debate on www.theforce.net ( June 13 , 1999 ) (archived from the original on April 13 , 2016 )

External links [ ]

• 1 Darth Sidious
• 2 Baylan Skoll
• 3 Anakin Skywalker

Exclusive: “Was I Not Padme?” Keira Knightley on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

By Alyse Wax

Recently, ComingSoon.net got the chance to talk to Keira Knightley about her new film,  Misbehaviour , and we couldn’t help but take a few minutes to ask her about one of her first film roles in  Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace . Surprisingly, Keira does not seem to be asked about the film much and admits that she was twelve when they filmed, and she only watched it once when it premiered. In the film, Keira played Sabe, one of Queen Amidala’s most important handmaidens. She later becomes a decoy, taking over the queen’s throne while Amidala dresses down and goes by the less formal name Padme. You can check out the interview now in the player below, and rent or purchase Knightley’s new movie Misbehaviour by clicking here !

RELATED: CS Video: Keira Knightley on the Historical Drama Misbehaviour

Misbehaviour  boasts an all-star cast including Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley ( The Imitation Game ,  Pride & Prejudice ), BAFTA Film Award nominee Gugu Mbatha-Raw ( The Morning Show ,  Black Mirror ), BAFTA Film Award nominee Jessie Buckley ( Wild Rose ,  Judy ), BAFTA TV Award nominee Keeley Hawes ( Bodyguard ,  The Durrells ), BAFTA Film Award winner Phyllis Logan ( Downton Abbey ,  Secrets & Lies ), Academy Award nominee Lesley Manville ( Ordinary Love ,  Phantom Thread ) BAFTA TV Award winner Rhys Ifans ( The King’s Man ,  Notting Hill ), and Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear ( Frankie ,  As Good as It Gets ). A witty yet heartfelt film,  Misbehaviour  was directed by multiple BAFTA Award-winning director Philippa Lowthorpe and written by Rebecca Frayn and BAFTA Scotland Award nominee Gaby Chiappe.

In 1970, the Miss World competition took place in London, hosted by US comedy legend, Bob Hope. At the time, Miss World was the most-watched TV show on the planet with over 100 million viewers. Claiming that beauty competitions demeaned women, the newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement achieved overnight fame by invading the stage and disrupting the live broadcast of the competition. Not only that, when the show resumed, the result caused uproar: the winner was not the Swedish favorite but Miss Grenada, the first black woman to be crowned Miss World. In a matter of hours, a global audience had witnessed the patriarchy driven from the stage and the Western ideal of beauty turned on its head.

RELATED: Misbehaviour Trailer Starring Keira Knightley & Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Misbehavior  opens on VOD everywhere September 25 from Shout! Studios.

Misbehaviour

Misbehaviour first still.

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Star wars: keira knightley thought she played padme in phantom menace.

Keira Knightley remembers so little about her role in Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace that she thought she played Padme.

Keira Knightley remembers so little about her role in Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace  that an interviewer had to tell her the character's name. Knightley rose to fame in the early 2000s after starring in a string of hits, including  Bend it Like Beckham ,  Love Actually , and the original  Pirates of the Caribbean  trilogy . At one point in the mid-2000s, she was considered one of the biggest stars in the world. Lately however, she has preferred to star in smaller, more intimate dramas to show off her dramatic range.

But one of her early roles was in the biggest franchise of them all, playing Sabe alongside Natalie Portman's Padme Amidala in the first  Star Wars prequel. Originally introduced as one of the handmaidens, Sabe also takes on the role of Padme's decoy throughout the movie. Knightley was cast for her physical resemblance to Portman at the time and was convincing enough in the role to even fool some audience members when she was under the makeup. Once she became a big star, fans remembered her in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and the character has become something of a minor icon in the  Star Wars universe as a result.

Related:  Why One Of Padmé's Phantom Menace Handmaidens Got A Razzie Nomination

Now, in an interview with  Coming Soon , Knightley has proven that she cares very little for the  Star Wars universe, getting confused over whether she played Padme or not, and needing the interviewer to remind her who she played. The interviewer mentions the fact that Knightley's character, Sabe, could conceivably return given that she survived the events of the prequels, as opposed to Padme, leading the actor to jump in and question whether she played Padme or not. The rest of the exchange only gets worse, with Knightley bursting into laughter at the suggestion of reprising the role. You can read the whole thing below:

Who did I play? Was I not Padme? No, you were her handmaiden Sabe. Oh I was Sabe? Ok. Do you know, I saw the film once. I think I was 12 when I did it, and I saw it the year after and I've never seen it again. So I played Sabe and she didn't die? Ok. [Laughing] I hope she lived a long and happy life somewhere on a planet far, far away.  Has there been any talking of reprising the role? Reprising the character I can't even remember the name of? No, there hasn't. [Sarcastically] There should be, though. I'm sure her life has been long and interesting. What was her name again? Sabe? 

It's a hilarious, yet slightly cringe-inducing exchange that proves Knightley falls into the Harrison Ford category of actors who've appeared in  Star Wars but don't really don't care about their role or their character's supposed place in the universe. This as opposed to someone like Mark Hamill , who is always enthusiastic to share his thoughts on what should have happened to his character, as well as everyone else's, in the  Star Wars  movies. For Knightley, the role was so long ago, and so insignificant, that she doesn't seem to care.

Clearly, Knightley won't be returning to the  Star Wars universe any time soon, though that won't be a shock to anyone, given that Sabe is hardly a central figure in the franchise. And with the universe focusing more on TV titles, aside from Taika Waititi's upcoming standalone Star Wars  film , there should be no need for Disney to contact actors to reprise side characters from  Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace .

Next:  How Padmé Almost Ruined Palpatine’s Sith Plan Before Phantom Menace

Source:  Coming Soon

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How Keira Knightley Really Feels About Getting Mistaken For Natalie Portman

As far as celebrity look-a-likes go, Natalie Portman's a pretty flattering one. It's also one that Keira Knightley gets a lot. The two definitely have several physical characteristics in common: they're both doe-eyed brunettes with lithe frames, delicate bone structures, and strong brows. They're also of a similar age, but considerably different heights. Knightley is four years younger than Portman and four inches taller, per 80s Kids .

The stars have switched roles on screen before to trick their on-camera adversaries — and their real-life folks, albeit unintentionally. "Our mums did actually confuse us on set," Knightley told The Telegraph. They both appeared in 1991's "Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace," where Portman played Queen Padme, and Knightley portrayed her handmaiden, Sabe. Per Sideshow , Knightley swapped outfits with Portman during the Naboo invasion to become a "decoy" queen. At the same time, Padme pretended to be Sabe to avoid capture.

But that's about as far as it goes when linking the couple. Because when the actors aren't working, they lead very different lives. They're both married, but that's where the similarities end. Portman's husband, Benjamin Millepied , is a ballet dancer and choreographer. They met while he was training Portman for her role in "Black Swan." Meanwhile, Knightley's husband, James Righton , plays keyboards for the British psychedelic rock band Klaxons. According to People , they were set up by a mutual friend at a dinner party. So, how does Keira Knightley feel about getting mistaken for Natalie Portman?

Keira Knightley's a celebrity shape shifter

Keira Knightley's not mad at people for mistaking her for Natalie Portman. In fact, she said she feels "quite sorry" for her A-list doppelganger. Knightley was asked during a "Late Late Show with James Corden" appearance if people ever think she's somebody else. "All the time," she replied. "I've been chased through an airport as Natalie Portman. I mean, Natalie Portman, a lot." Knightley admitted she's posed as Portman in tons of fan pics. "I've been chased through a park as Kate Winslet," she continued. "Quite a few people have come over to me to ask me to say hello to Daniel Craig for them because they think I'm Rachel Weisz."

Most bizarrely, though, Knightley said she's been mistaken for Britney Spears too. "The other ones, I get it. I'm like English," she said. "But Britney Spears?" Never one to disappoint the public, Knightley confessed to posing as Britney as well for fan photos. However, she takes it all in her stride and isn't offended by not being recognized. "I quite enjoy it," Knightley admitted. "I'm much more polite, I think, when people think I'm somebody else."

She shared her Portman misidentification story on "The Graham Norton Show" too (via Just Jared ). "I feel quite sorry for her because she must get chased a lot because it's happened like five times where someone's been like, 'Natalie! Natalie! Natalie!' And I'll sign and take a picture as Natalie," Knightley said.

Forget Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley's all about Emma Thompson

Keira Knightley might be non-plussed about getting mistaken for Natalie Portman. But she'd be over the moon if it was Emma Thompson. In addition to being one of the favorite Emmas in Hollywood , Thompson also tops Knightley's fangirl list. The acclaimed British thespian and anointed Dame of the British Empire, who wore sneakers to receive her ceremonial medal, has been an idol of Knightley's since she was a little girl.

She was so in awe of Thompson that her mother evoked her name to motivate her daughter when she was growing up. "My mum, who worked with her on 'Sense and Sensibility,' got me a copy of the screenplay Emma had written," Knightley told GQ (via The Guardian ). "And I was – am – dyslexic, and the way she got me over it was to say: 'If Emma Thompson couldn't read, she'd make b***dy sure she'd get over it, so you have to start reading because that's what Emma Thompson would do.'"

Knightley finally got to work with her idol in 2003 when they both starred in "Love Actually," every rom-com fan's favorite Brit Christmas flick. Funnily, "Love Actually" (specifically the cards on the doorstep scene) resulted in Knightley being recognized as herself for once. "[I got stuck in London traffic], and someone in the car next to me did the whole sign thing," she told Yahoo! Entertainment . Clearly, Knightley should have just wound down the window and pretended she was Portman.

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Toward a Unified Theory of Natalie Portman

By Jesse Hassenger

In the mother-daughter drama Anywhere But Here , the 1999 Natalie Portman movie where she doesn’t play the Queen of Naboo, teenage Ann (Portman) has a rocky relationship with her flaky, erratic mom Adele (Susan Sarandon). At one point, at Adele’s behest and despite her own lack of interest, Ann goes on an audition for a movie, and delivers a spiteful imitation of her mother as a monologue . It’s a remarkable bit of acting from Portman, who has to simultaneously deliver a credible impression of her co-star, communicate the frustration beneath that impression (which she nonetheless believes her mother won’t see), and convey both her lack of genuine interest in acting and the brief catharsis she feels in savaging her mom—all within the space of a few minutes. Back in 1999, the scene was a signal that Portman had more to offer than the child-star precocity of her earlier roles. Now, it looks more like a prophecy—that Portman would become a sincere and thoughtful meta-actor, one whose early time on the spotlight informs a stardom focused largely on elements of performance.

On the scale of actoriness, that ineffable theater-kid quality that creates young stars and cruel backlashes to them in an endless churn, Portman would, at nearly any phase of her career, rate pretty low – at least compared to figures like Anne Hathaway, Anna Kendrick, or Andrew Garfield (charming and talented actors all, to be clear). Portman has plenty of charisma, but her child-star background doesn’t scream Look at me , and she at no point seems likely to burst into song, even after appearing in a musical ( Everyone Says I Love You ) and famously stumping for indie-rock band The Shins in Garden State . Given all that, it’s striking to realize how often Portman has played a performer of some sort or another. Her new movie May December , a Todd Haynes film that opens in theaters this weekend before its Netflix bow next month, is her most actor-on-acting role to date: She plays Elizabeth Berry, a Hollywood star (we gather she has a hit streaming series) who arrives in Savannah, Georgia, to study Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), who Elizabeth will be playing in an upcoming movie.

This arrangement comes with built-in discomfort, because Gracie is a tabloid fixture—a Mary Kay Letourneau type, notorious for her seduction of an underage boy. Gracie went to prison for her crime, but maintained a relationship of sorts with young Joe, who impregnated her before her prison sentence. Following her release, the two married. As May December begins, it’s many years later, with Gracie in her 50s and Joe (Charles Melton) in his 30s, and they’re preparing to send their youngest children off to college. In other words, their relationship appears to have remained stable, surviving past its tawdriest headlines (though remnants of her notoriety arrive in the form of the occasional literal dogshit through the mail). Even Elizabeth’s film project isn’t a cheap TV-movie type of thing; it sounds more like something A24 or Neon (or at least, hey, Netflix) might distribute. This doesn’t, however, keep Elizabeth from overstepping some boundaries, something she does so frequently, and often so politely, that the audience may start to wonder if there are more (and less visible) lines to this situation than it seems from the outside.

The tone of Haynes' film feels near impossible: part dark comedy, part melodrama, part intimate psychological study. In that mix (if not its precise execution), it recalls another Portman movie: Black Swan , where she plays a driven ballet dancer self-destructively fixated on proving her worth. It’s also the role that won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, which can be interpreted as a tribute to Portman’s own dedication in the role and/or evidence of how strenuous self-torture, even when it’s made to look horrific—and Black Swan is a horror movie, in addition to the previously mentioned genres—is ultimately rewarded by other actors. Still, Portman herself must be fascinated by these public displays. She followed up Black Swan with two films placing her character in even harsher, less self-directed spotlights: Jackie , where she walks the line between public grief and private suffering as Jackie Kennedy in the aftermath of her husband’s assassination, and Vox Lux , in which she plays a young woman who emerges from the horror of a school shooting to become a volatile, self-destructive, globally beloved pop star.

Bringing insecure and abrasive performers to life in Black Swan and Vox Lux didn’t necessarily seem like a natural fit for Portman, who attracted some icky attention early on playing teenage characters in The Professional or Beautiful Girls who enter adult worlds with unexpected confidence and poise, which she convincingly sells as not remotely artificial (even when, as in Beautiful Girls and later Garden State , they’re screenplay fantasies). In those early films, and many of the movies she made as a young adult, Portman has a warmth and guilelessness that’s not especially confrontational. Black Swan toys with that image, as her Nina is especially a “nice” white swan attempting to will herself, through sheer striving mania, to eclipse her polite-little-girl veneer. Portman's performance in Vox Lux , though, takes things further, all jabbing Staten Island accent and accessorized fidgeting. The uncharacteristically mannered work from Portman drives home the film’s depiction of fame as a destabilizing force, and performing as a desperate cry into the abyss that can turn unexpectedly, even inappropriately, triumphant.

By Timothy Werth

By Gerald Ortiz

In May December , Portman plays another performer, in seemingly greater control of her gifts. Elizabeth is successful in her field (albeit ambitious enough to pursue what’s clearly seen as an awards-baiting serious turn), and comfortable enough in her own skin that when she visits a high school class to talk about her craft, she blithely refuses to soften her thoughts on filming sex scenes. Instead, she appears to revel in her oversharing, either assuming that everyone will be too star-struck to notice her sexualized descriptions or getting off on getting away with it.

This is one of many moments in May December that skirts camp, though of course Haynes is too conscious a filmmaker to make something truly campy by the traditional definition. Portman’s Elizabeth becomes a haunted-mirror reflection of Gracie, acting like an empathetic observer while imitating her improprieties, albeit never going as far over the line as Gracie, who the movie does not let off the hook. The feelings Elizabeth’s visit stirs in Joe are valid, regardless of how they’re drawn out. The movie twists through several halls’ worth of mirrors: Joe, for example, is played by Charles Melton, a 32-year-old actor who has spent much of the past decade pretending to be much younger on the sexy teen soap Riverdale . Here he’s slightly aged up, in order to convincingly embody an adult man who's arrested around the age of Gracie’s violation.

The whole movie is terrific—Melton deserves to become the first Riverdale kid to get an Oscar nomination—but it feels particularly revealing of Portman’s own ambivalence about the sometimes-sinister craft of acting. Privately (and/or when she thinks no one is watching), Elizabeth practices an imitation of Gracie, placing herself in the other woman’s shoes for purposes that become murkier than the puff-piece sound bites she offers early on. With Gracie’s family, clearly overstaying her welcome, Elizabeth performs an actor’s off-camera humility; the audience, familiar with the sensitivity Portman has brought to so many past roles, will instinctively believe that this is at least somewhat truthful. As such, it may take some time to register that as a portrait of an actor wriggling free of interview niceties, her work here is almost like a more self-lacerating version of the image-busting raps Portman has performed on Saturday Night Live . Even in the confrontational Vox Lux , Portman doesn’t quite cross over into ranting against the media’s treatment of famous idols; what she sometimes appears to be communicating is a deeper-seated mistrust of anyone who feels compelled to fake it for a living, herself included.

Maybe those feelings have been there all along; it would certainly be understandable, given Portman’s formative experiences as an actor. Though Anywhere But Here was shot well before the release of Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace , it’s easy to project some additional frustration onto that aforementioned audition scene, given that Portman’s work in the biggest movie of that year was repeatedly dismissed as stiff and uncomfortable. This was especially unfair because Phantom Menace , too, has Portman playing a character inhabiting another role: We see Queen Amidala, the regal and thoroughly bedecked teenage queen of a peaceful planet; and later we see Padme, the thoughtful and wary queen in disguise as her own handmaiden. (In scenes where Padme and the Queen share the screen, Keira Knightley is playing the queen’s royal double, further evidence that the role is asking for a certain self-conscious formality, not naturalism.) Both guises involve a form of acting, whether it’s attending to Naboo's rituals with a certain bearing, or using a humbler identity to convey her actual feelings (and especially her doubts).

Even as Padme sheds the disguise, the character continues to navigate public life in the next two prequels, subjected to impossible choices and criticism from allies and enemies alike. In retrospect, this is a natural role for a former child actor coming into her own, faced with discomfiting adult attention alternating with vitriol. Act naturally, and the creeps fall in love with you; act with a more heightened affect, and they’ll call you laughably fake. Elizabeth in May December seems to relish both of these prospects on some level, and Portman doesn’t necessarily look down on her for it. She’s simply uncommonly willing to place her own persona and profession under a microscope—or stare at it in the mirror.

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Fans Mistook This Celebrity For Britney Spears, And Everyone Was Confused

Some confused fans thought they were snapping a photo with Britney Spears, but it turns out it wasn't her.

• Keira Knightley is often mistaken for other celebrities, including Britney Spears, Kate Winslet, Natalie Portman, and Rachel Weisz.
• Knightley enjoys being mistaken for someone else and finds it more polite to play along rather than correcting fans.
• Knightley has a strong resemblance to Natalie Portman and has been mistaken for her the most, especially due to their roles in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

British actress Keira Knightley is known for playing diverse roles, but more famously as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Keira Knightley has a fortune of 80 million dollars for appearing in successful and critical films , capturing the hearts of fans with her alluring interpretations of characters.

Keira Knightley may be a successful actress in her own right, but she is not free from the occasional mistaken identities celebrities often experience. Her experiences may have been awkward and hilarious, especially when some fans thought she was Britney Spears . Here's how the Love Actually actress dealt with the situation.

Keira Knightley Was Once Mistaken For Britney Spears

Keira Knightley often gets stopped by people who find her similar to some other celebrities. However, meeting with a Britney Spears fan tops Knightley's list of weird similarities.

While chatting with James Corden on The Late Late Show with James Corden , a question celebrities often get asked was raised. “Do you ever get mistaken for other actors?” James Gorden asked.

It must have been random for her, but Keira Knightley revealed she was mistaken for Britney Spears . "[It was] in LA, and I was in a shop. I don’t know. It was a weird one. I had my picture as Britney Spears."

"I would love to see that person with their friends,” Corden responded. "'Guys, I just met Britney Spears. Look.' And they go, 'Oh my god, no you didn’t. You met Keira Knightley.'"

Keira Knightley was pleasant enough not to correct the fans, as it was a common occurrence for her. She may not spot the similarities she shares with the pop singer, but Britney Spears fans could have.

The moment could have been weird for Keira Knightly, but she wasn't bothered by it. "I quite enjoy it, though. I’m much more polite, I think, when people think that I’m somebody else," she said.

Related: Does Keira Knightley Regret Starring In 'Pirates Of The Caribbean'?

Keira Knightley Gets Mistaken As Other Famous Actresses

Keira Knightley’s experience of being mistaken for other Hollywood actresses does not only end with Britney Spears. They also always have many surprising outcomes with fans.

The Anna Karenina actress revealed she had been stopped and mistaken for Kate Winslet, Natalie Portman, and Rachel Weisz.

"I’ve been chased through a park as Kate Winslet. Quite a few people have come up to me to say hello to Daniel Craig for them because they think I’m Rachel Weisz," she revealed on the show. Knightley was also understanding, knowing that most of the actresses she gets mistaken for are English like her.

Related: This Was Margot Robbie's Reaction To Fans Mistaking Her For Emma Mackey

She may take people mistaking her for other actresses in stride, but she does have a bad day. Keira Knightley opened up about being mistaken for Anne Hathaway — but that did not have a pleasant outcome.

"At the airport, a woman mistook me for Anne Hathaway," she said.

"Actually, I think I have to apologize to Anne Hathaway because the woman (at the airport) thought I was being really rude as Anne Hathaway by not giving her a picture as Anne Hathaway, but I was really only saying that I promised, I wasn't Anne Hathaway, which I am not."

Knightley did feel apologetic to Anne Hathaway, whom she felt she represented badly, even though she was not. And it was the first time Knightley would be mistaken for Les Misérables actress.

"It’s the first Anne Hathaway I have had. Generally, I get a lot of Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman."

The actress may have vastly different outcomes from her doppelgänger moments, but it's part of her life as a public figure.

Keira Knightley Gets Mistaken For Natalie Portman The Most

Keira Knightley's doppelgänger moment trophy actually goes to Natalie Portman. She revealed she had been mistaken for the Black Swan actress the most. She was once chased in the airport as Natalie Portman, and the reason is quite understandable. The actresses appeared as lookalikes in the film.

Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley appeared in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as Queen Padmé Amidala and Sabé (Padmé's decoy), respectively. The part was a small role for Knightley but a major one for Portman.

Related: What Does Keira Knightley Think About Acting In 'Star Wars'?

Their striking similarities were not missed, and they were often mistaken for each other on set. Nonetheless, the actresses were able to bond on the set of the film and have maintained their friendship. They have been supportive of each other and don't mind mistaken identities.

Fans may not like Keira Knightley’s face for weird reasons , but the actress often does not correct people who mistake her for some other actress. She is even nice enough to have pictures taken as Natalie Portman or say a simple thank you when she's mistaken for Britney Spears. Keira Knightley just takes everything without fault.