Keira Knightley reportedly auditioned for the upcoming remake of My Fair Lady, in the presence of the great Cameron Mackintosh himself (producer of such gargantuan productions as Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Phantom of the Opera, among others). She is said to have “impressed” but is not yet confirmed for the role.
I think she’ll look good as Eliza Doolittle. If anything, she shares with Audrey Hepburn that uber-thin frame and ethereal beauty. I’m not sure about the singing, though, and she had said that she would definitely want to push her limits and try to hit the high notes herself if she’ll land the role. I can believe that she got drunk before she auditioned. I will, too, if I was her. I can already imagine her nailing that Cockney accent and screaming like a madwoman as Eliza often does. Any young woman who acts like that now would go straight to a drug rehabilitation center!
It’ll be a lovely (or loverly, as Eliza would say) role. I wouldn’t want to see any other non-singer, Hollywood starlet take the role, anyway (although I’ll take someone unknown but with a gorgeous voice like Julie Andrews’), especially one who is too busy going to one drug rehab after another to have been familiar with this classic Cinderella story. Keira’s wholesome image, and the fact that she seems to be at her best element in period films, would work just fine.