Keira Knightley & Rosamund Pike Reunite 20 Years After 'Pride & Prejudice' | Vanity Fair

when you did the dawn scene, you know, where he's coming across the door and we all got up with you. You all got up with us. Everyone got up at 3:00 a.m. and

us. Everyone got up at 3:00 a.m. and

everybody was there. Yeah. People that

are doing this for the new one for Netflix, if they're not all doing that, then they're missing out. Hello. Hello.

I feel like we're reuniting for a game of sardines. Oh, that's a good idea.

of sardines. Oh, that's a good idea.

Should we do a show?

[Music] What do we remember about the first time we met? Were you there for my audition?

we met? Were you there for my audition?

I was there for your audition. I just

got the part. You did a really good job.

Thank you. I remember I was I remember what I was wearing for my audition. I

was wearing a What were you wearing?

Well, because then Jacqueline Duran, the raising costume designer, had to take it because she had to match that shade of pink for the pink that Jane wore in the first ball before the Netherfield one,

the the group the um where was the first where was the town that they lived? Where was the village?

Nope. Nope. Nothing. Nothing. It's not

there. Nope. Don't remember. God, do you know what? I haven't seen it in 20

know what? I haven't seen it in 20 years. Love every man in the room does

years. Love every man in the room does not end the evening in love with you.

Then I have no judge of beauty. Oh men.

No, they are far too easy to judge. Was

that the one where it's all very sweaty and kind of like country? Yeah. And it

was and it was filmed on long lenses, so nobody knew when camera. You were

wearing green and you must have been wearing pink. The pink. The pink. Ah.

wearing pink. The pink. The pink. Ah.

Audition. What were my first impressions of you? I mean, just sophisticated and

of you? I mean, just sophisticated and gorgeous. I mean, what's funny is that I

gorgeous. I mean, what's funny is that I don't remember what you were wearing then, but I do remember so many of your other clothes because you've always had the most amazing clothes. Oh, that's

very nice. Yeah, cuz I was like a real scruff and I always remember looking at you. Well, you I remember you being

you. Well, you I remember you being unbelievably cool and I remember going I remember staying in a hotel and um going for a walk one evening and you were in the gym cuz you were also simultaneously

playing Elizabeth Bennett preparing your role as Domino practicing with Nunchucks. So I was like, "Oh my

Nunchucks. So I was like, "Oh my goodness, this girl is badass." Yeah.

No, it was I do actually remember she's in a bonnet by day and she's wielding nunchucks by night. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

And I think I had to get up at like 5 a.m. to do like knife practice or

a.m. to do like knife practice or something and then I'd go and be Elizabeth Bennett. I enjoyed that. But

Elizabeth Bennett. I enjoyed that. But

no, it's your clue because No, but you know what I really remember? I remember

you and this must have been later. You

had the most amazing hat in Venice and you were sat by a swimming pool. We were

at a film. We were at the Venice film festival and you were wearing this amazing hat by the pool. It was

enormous. It was really enormous. It was

really enormous. And I just remember thinking, yeah, like if you're going to be in Venice, like that's the way to be in V. Like do it with the hat. I do

in V. Like do it with the hat. I do

remember that hat. And then it becomes a totally impractical as you get older and have children. I mean, it becomes one

have children. I mean, it becomes one thing. You can never have the hat. You

thing. You can never have the hat. You

just there's no room in the family luggage for a hat like that. You get

both the children in the hat though, which would be quite handy, I suppose.

Oh my gosh, I learned a lot from you cuz you were you had this unbelievable work ethic. I mean, I I you know, what was on

ethic. I mean, I I you know, what was on your shoulders age 19 was just I mean, I don't know if you look back and think, give your 19-year-old self a pat on the

back. I do actually. I mean, because the

back. I do actually. I mean, because the experience of playing Lizzy is totally different from the experience of playing Jane. With Jane, you know, you might be

Jane. With Jane, you know, you might be in one scene a day or you might have a day off. With Lizzy, you don't have any

day off. With Lizzy, you don't have any days off. You're in from morning till

days off. You're in from morning till night. And so it's it's and and playing

night. And so it's it's and and playing a lead is is is very very it's a totally different ball game. It is a totally different ball game. I think in in a funny way it's sort of you're so

immersed in it though that in a quite a nice way you're just sort of in this tunnel vision and you kind of just go through it. There were probably things

through it. There were probably things that we did socially that you had to miss out on. There were things that you did socially that I had to miss out on and I remember looking at you all thinking, "Oh, I wish I had a bit of

that." cuz you were all having such an

that." cuz you were all having such an amaz because you're up and you've got these major scenes the next day you can't do.

But I was also just really shy so I didn't quite know how to I didn't know how to do it. But I I I remember it being like the first time that I'd work with a group of people that were sort of the same age as opposed to working with

a bunch of guys who were infinitely older, which is all I'd done up to then.

Um but uh you know working with all of you guys and and being and yeah and but I did I I remember managing at some points to come down and be a part of it but it did look like you were like this

amazing kind of group of Oh well I think it was just that you you were so cool and you were so sophisticated. You were

you seemed very worldly and you seemed very together and you seemed I don't know just like you you knew what you were doing in like this amazing way. you

had confidence. I think that I mean probably you didn't because you were in your 20s and who has confidence in the 20s but what it looked like was that you had this amazing confidence about

yourself which I think I sort of thought that's a wonderful trait at least even if you don't have it to be able to exude that. Well that is good for a good

that. Well that is good for a good actress I suppose. Well exactly even when feeling like you don't have it. Ah,

I'm feeling great. You know, you totally did. You were like you were you were the

did. You were like you were you were the sort of consumate older sister. You you

know, you were older sister. I think

that was a nice role for me because I don't have siblings. So, I think it was a great treat for me to suddenly get to play the older sister of this amazing

family of girls. Yeah. And I and I loved it. I loved the feeling of being close

it. I loved the feeling of being close to you all. And I love the fact I don't know if you remember, but sometimes between takes you and I would go up to our bedroom to Lizzy and Jane's bedroom.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And just, you know, instead of going off, we'd sit on our bed and chat. Can you die of happiness?

Do you know he was totally ignorant of my being in town in the spring? How did

he account for it? He thought me indifferent.

Unfathomable. Things that we did when we weren't shooting, Ros.

Now, come on. There was the party that Donald Suddenland came to because the whole thing was that you weren't allowed to smoke. Oh, do you remember? And he

to smoke. Oh, do you remember? And he

had so he had it in his contract that nobody on set was allowed to smoke anywhere near and you couldn't smell of smoke. But of course, everyone smoked

smoke. But of course, everyone smoked back then anyway. Everyone smoked and so we'd be running off and everybody would be smoking and then you'd be sort of spraying yourself with everything. But

the party he came to, he came in the center of it in a gas mask. He stood in the party in the middle of the party. He

knew that everybody he knew and he was like, "I want you to all be able to smoke and I wanted to come to the party." So, we were there smoking and

party." So, we were there smoking and him and the gas mask. He was amazing.

And he also remembered halfway through shooting that he had a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow that he bought while making Don't Look Now or something and completely forgotten about and

remembered was garageed somewhere up near Manchester and had it delivered to set. And there was this day when this

set. And there was this day when this Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Yes. glided

into, you know, of course, no one wanted t car tire marks on the some gravel that should have had any or you know, only chicken feet and, you know, silver. I

was going to say most actors have been a disappointment since then. Most actors,

yes, Donald is pretty legendary. We did

have dinners with him sometimes. I mean,

he told us some pretty wild stories which cannot be shared. No, no. Amazing

stories, but mustn't be shared. I will

give my hearty consent to his marrying whichever the girls he chooses. So, will

he come to the ball tomorrow, papa?

I believe so.

How did the success of Pride and Prejudice affect your career? My career?

Um, well, you were nominated for an Oscar. I was nominated for an Oscar. I

Oscar. I was nominated for an Oscar. I

mean, that's that you're you're forever an Oscar nominee after that. Yes. So, it

it did I mean I think uh Yeah. I mean it it yeah it was pretty big for my career I think. I mean it's still sort of I

I think. I mean it's still sort of I think probably the main one that if people will come up to me it'll be about that one which is kind of you know pretty it was pretty big and it was and

it was incredibly well reviewed and popular. I think that was for me it was

popular. I think that was for me it was because I'd had Pirates of the Caribbean had already come out, but I think in the public consciousness I was seen as a terrible actress, but I had this

phenomenally big success with Pirates.

And I think this was the first one that was a phenomenally big success, but was also critically acclaimed. So, I

remember it coming out maybe the same year, maybe around the same time as as uh Pirates 2, and I got the worst reviews ever for that. And then also

being nominated for an Oscar at the same time. So it was in my 20 21 year old

time. So it was in my 20 21 year old head. Quite a confusing time. Bend it

head. Quite a confusing time. Bend it

like Beckham. I was 16. So I was 17 when it came out. I got terrible reviews for it or at least the ones I remember or the ones that in your 17year-old brain actually sink in, of course, are only

the ones that are negative. So I think it was like the first time that it'd been unequivocably positive. Yes. And

and so that was that was amazing. And to

take a character that's loved by so many and the world feel like you've nailed it. I mean that's a nice that's a nice

it. I mean that's a nice that's a nice feeling. Yes. How about you? Well, I

feeling. Yes. How about you? Well, I

mean, I just remember being part of something that felt magical. And I

remember being in New York on the night that it actually opened to the public and kind of scooting around New York with our director and the assistant director, um, the second unit director,

Thomas Napper, and sort of just watching secretly these cues that were assembling to go into the screens. And that was very, very exciting moment. But it is funny because I think a lot we I do

remember a feeling when we were making it that it was going to work. And I

don't know whether that was because we were so young that we didn't know the feeling of it not or whether it just felt all the way through that we were like, "Oh, this feels really like it's

happening." I I do think the story has a

happening." I I do think the story has a magic in it that carries you through. It

does. And I think it being one of those stories that has magic in it. Yes. That

everybody who's ever is associated with that story Yeah. has quite a magical time. I think you're probably right. And

time. I think you're probably right. And

but I mean what about the chemistry with you and Matthew? You know that that was you must have you must have met a few dares. Not that you're going to discuss

dares. Not that you're going to discuss that now. I wouldn't I wouldn't I

that now. I wouldn't I wouldn't I wouldn't dream of discussing that but yes there were a few dares and it was very clear that it was Matthew from the get-go and it was just he was it was you

know he's just such a nice man. Yeah. I

think that helps doesn't it? If you kind of meet somebody and you're just like well you're just lovely. So this and can also do and can also such an amazing actor. So what fun it kind of becomes

actor. So what fun it kind of becomes sort of and when he can completely mask the niceness and and put it under the arrogance and standoffishness that Darcy

appears to have and then melt. Oh, so

good. I have fought against my better judgment, my family's expectation, the inferiority of your birth, my rank and circumstance, all these things that I'm willing to put them aside and ask you to end my agony. I don't understand. I love

you. when you did the dawn scene, you know, where he's coming across the door and we all got up with you. You all got up with us. Everyone got up at 3:00 a.m.

and everybody was there because Yes. It

was very very See, the people that are doing this for the new one for Netflix, if they're not all doing that, then they're missing out. Exactly. It's like

you've all got to be there for all of the scenes, guys. So, Kier, what was it that tempted you into TV? Because you I mean, most of your career has been spent making films. Most of it had um I mean I

had been looking for a TV series. I mean

from the point where everything seemed to be going onto streaming and suddenly there were these amazing budgets for television and it was this epic. I had

actually been looking for them for years and just for one reason or another co or a baby it hadn't happened and so yeah this was the one that I was fortunate all came together. It is strange isn't it how big screen and small screen are

sort of merging and that very likely someone who's seen your film now will have seen it on the table in the palm of their hand. In the palm of their hand.

their hand. In the palm of their hand.

Yeah. Or you promise me that you will keep my family safe and you will keep me alive so that I can find out who killed him

and why and I can take my revenge. Here, do you relate to your character in Black D?

Well, I' I've already told you that, you know, I've already told everyone here that you're a vaguely psychotic badass who kind of Oh, yeah. That you saw me at 19 with my Yeah, that knife fighting. It

really came out. Um, do I I mean, yeah, but I think it's easy. She is a bit of a psychopath, but I think it's easier to, you know, she's she's not she's not quite as epically kind of, you know,

you're you're well in fantasy, whereas mine is reality. Sort of reality.

Hovering hovering. Hovering just above Yeah. reality. As a mother, as a mother,

Yeah. reality. As a mother, as a mother, what do you think? Are your parenting styles? Well, I mean, I'm not an

styles? Well, I mean, I'm not an undercover spy who's constantly betraying their father, which I think, just as parenting goes, means I'm better

than she is. Um, so, you know, that's good. I think I probably lose it at my

good. I think I probably lose it at my kids more than she does cuz she's pretending to be the perfect mother. And

maybe if she lost it at her kids, then actually it would all be a lot healthier. But she doesn't. I think what

healthier. But she doesn't. I think what I liked about her was the idea of multiple personalities in one person, which I think we do hopefully not to a

massive degree, but do to some degree have. And you realize it even more when

have. And you realize it even more when you become a mother because, you know, the face that you've got to your kids is not necessarily the face that you've got when you go out and you have a nice time with your mate. Did you get to go

undercover? No, I didn't. I didn't do I

undercover? No, I didn't. I didn't do I didn't go undercover. I'd done I'd spoken to spies before because I play played a spy before so I'd already done some and this one is Do you get to speak to spies face to face or do you have to

speak to them on the phone? No voice

changer. I can't say obviously. Um but I felt like this was quite again not really re I mean on the closer to the James Bond I was doing reality and you were doing fantasy. I was doing fantasy.

Yeah. Yeah. So did did I do any research? No. But I did learn all the

research? No. But I did learn all the fight scenes.

That's research, isn't it? Yes. That's

training. Core training. I mean, the whole thing's silly. And that's what I enjoyed. I mean, in the best way. I

enjoyed. I mean, in the best way. I

mean, it's pretty griy. If you're

watching it, you don't know what's happening. It's It's really enjoyable

happening. It's It's really enjoyable and entertaining, but it's also I mean, I strangled somebody with a necklace. It

was great. I love that. I was so happy.

I was like, "Oh." And then the necklace breaks. This is so fun. And again, the

breaks. This is so fun. And again, the previous question of are you similar to your character? little bit psychotic

your character? little bit psychotic obviously because I'm going yay I get to strangle her and I remember I kept saying to him Joe the writer can't I kill her because she's trying to sleep with my husband I should kill her he's

like you can't kill her like I think I'd kill her don't think you should kill her yeah I'll her and her with her pearl my lady can I help you'll

need stables for our horses and a room for the night two beds and fresh linen that's all we need Of course, Morraine Sedai. Go on. Are there any parts of

Sedai. Go on. Are there any parts of meraine that are in I like you. Yeah. I think the single-mindedness I think I think if I'm

if you get my loyalty, you get it 100%.

I think that is similar. You do get once I commit to something, I'm all in. Yeah.

But uh she has no humor. No, very little humor. Which is why I've I've made a

humor. Which is why I've I've made a mental note that in the next few years I must play characters who get to have a laugh. She gets about one laugh a

laugh. She gets about one laugh a season, I think. Did you make sure? Did

you like beat it out? Here it is. No, I

tried to wait for There was one where she got to have a drink. I was like, "Oh god, can she just get a bit of get a bit pissed and let loose?" And yeah, it's very brief. Very brief. She doesn't in

very brief. Very brief. She doesn't in the books, does she? Haven't No, she's very serious. Not Not many. You haven't

very serious. Not Not many. You haven't

read the books of No, but I didn't know.

I haven't. But I know that you've done the audio book and I thought actually I might listen to those at some point cuz that might be quite fun cuz I bet you're good at an audio book. I did the audio book of Pride and Prejudice too. Did

you? That's very good. Kira, of all of all the amazing directors that you've worked with, who do you think is there any particular one who you think you know this person taught me? Um, yes. I

think I'd have to say Joe Wright because we worked together three times and I was a teenager the first time and then sort of in my late 20s by the end of our sort of working relationship. So I think confidence I learned and uh just the

fact that at that point somebody was believing in my ability was a major thing for me at that point in my life I think and that he really stuck up for me and working title too. And working

title. Yeah. Um having a studio it was a kind of studio system in a way wasn't it for you. Yeah. And it was it was

for you. Yeah. And it was it was absolutely amazing. It was amazing and a

absolutely amazing. It was amazing and a joy to I mean I always dream of working with the same person again. It doesn't

seem to always happen, but it is. You no

doubt do you have you you have a short hand if you get you definitely get to have a short hand. Same question for you, Ros. Um, yes, for me, David Fincher

you, Ros. Um, yes, for me, David Fincher was the absolute I feel my whole career is before and after that film because I I probably had more hours on camera

during that film alone than the whole rest of my career combined. I genuinely

still believe that we shot for 106 days because he spends all the budget on time. Wow. and he doesn't mess around

time. Wow. and he doesn't mess around and it's and he does these you know famously large number of takes so you get an awful lot of time and he taught me so much and I just sort of cringe now

sometimes not Pride and Prejudice not the stuff that I did that was sort of close to me but some of the things I did in America I almost cringe at because I think about what he would be saying about them which I suppose is sort of he

give you notes as well oh yes hundreds of notes interesting notes but sometimes they're left of field ideas that are so random that you're, you know, you're doing a scene that's um, you know, you

have, you have an agenda to go through, I don't know what it was, you know, you're looking for receipts in a bin or something. And he says, "Think about

something. And he says, "Think about who's wondering if your hair looks nice." But it's those are the things

nice." But it's those are the things that actually you think now I'll think what have I missed or what other thought could be coming in that's completely left a field just anything random you

know you're out in the street at night thinking who's watching me or instead of just focusing on your mission and he's just very cool and very clever and I always felt I wasn't good enough for him

which probably suggests that you know you always thought I'm never going to be at the level but that is also exciting cuz you you think there's always more to find and but you also in the midst of

that think I get to play everything with this part because she's also a performer and she's putting on so many different selves but sometimes he'd say to me okay I want you to play disgust remorse

despair indignation and then just think they're all so beneath you I don't know something like that and you'd think oh god okay okay I'll do it and then you'd say okay did I do it and you'd say yeah

I said but that took you 12 seconds I needed in three Jesus and you think, okay skip.

And then you sort of think, I can't I can't. And then and then eventually

can't. And then and then eventually after you're on take 99, oh, I did. I

did it. Maybe I just did it. Yeah, it's

rehearsal, isn't it? It's rehearsal.

That's all it is. Magic rehearsal. Yeah.

My favorite performance of yours is I care a lot. Who do you work for?

Jennifer Peters. Liar. Excuse me? Liar.

Jennifer did not call you from the facility. You think I'm stupid enough to

facility. You think I'm stupid enough to let new wards anywhere near a working phone? And I know from her paperwork,

phone? And I know from her paperwork, her lawyer is a local guy who deals in family law. And that's not you. You're a

family law. And that's not you. You're a

shark, which intrigues me. And I want to know who hired you. Gone Girl is up there. But I loved I Care a Lot so much.

there. But I loved I Care a Lot so much.

I think I phoned you afterwards or I saw you. I remember seeing you afterwards.

you. I remember seeing you afterwards.

Yes, you did. Yes, you did. I loved it so much. You're so psychotic and weird

so much. You're so psychotic and weird and awful and wonderful and I was like, that is it's one of my favorite. It's

It's actually just flat out just one of my favorite performances. It's a

wonderful weird thing that you created. I love it.

Oh, that's Well, now you say that you like playing psychotic. Well, that's

good. Yeah, I was thinking I was thinking of that before, but when I was playing Helen We would rather do I mean I loved Anacina. I thought Anakin was

the most in I thought that was just a blinding film. I loved the whole conceit

blinding film. I loved the whole conceit of it. I think I rang you after that

of it. I think I rang you after that one. I thought it was just absolutely

one. I thought it was just absolutely stunning cuz it was so layered and so it was it was so unexpected. The whole

thing of the theater just worked really really well for me. I thought it was phenomenal. But then you know Lizzy I

phenomenal. But then you know Lizzy I mean my sister I still think I still think it's one of the greatest performances ever. Oh, and I and I think

performances ever. Oh, and I and I think I can't believe that they're daring daring to do another one for Netflix because I, you know, and even now when I

see it, you know, even when you when you see something, even a clip of it, I marvel at what you did. I really do. But

I was obviously there for all of it. So

Ana Krenina, I didn't see any of. So So

it I just was able to just watch it as a as something I knew nothing about. With

with Pride and Prejudice, I feel I know every sort of breath of it. I mean, I can't say I'm someone who watches it over and over, but which I'd like to be able to do if I wasn't in it. I mean,

what kind of a fan are you?

We've had a whole conversation courtesy of Vanity Fair. We haven't even had a cup of tea or a glass of water or anything. Water. Glass of champagne.

anything. Water. Glass of champagne.

Could have had a We could have been here drinking champagne. Then we could have

drinking champagne. Then we could have got some really good stories. Should we

go and have some champagne now? Come on.

Bye. Bye. Bye.