Keira Knightley does neo-goth on Bazaar UK cover: lovely or overdone?

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley covers the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK to promote her starring turn in the upcoming Anna Karenina, in which she’ll get her Russian tragedy on. The shoot itself (from the shots that have been revealed thus far) is absolutely gorgeous in its dark, neo-goth appeal and was photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth. In the magazine’s words, Keira has been transformed into “a modern-day Guinevere,” and she embraced the idea “with gusto.” Keira is definitely one of the only actresses out there that can successfully pull off burgundy-colored lipstick, and I just want to wrap myself up in the sumptuousness of this shoot.

In the cover shot itself, Keira is wearing Chanel, and according to Harper’s, Keira talks a lot in the interview about her relationship with Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld as well as the importance of girlfriends. In the sparse excerpts that have been revealed thus far, however, we get to hear what Keira thought of her Anna Karenina co-stars, Jude Law and Aaron Johnson. She seems quite impressed by Aaron’s acting skills, and there’s a funny way that she dances around the fact that the filmmakers really uglied up Jude for his role as Alexei Karenin:

Keira Knightley

On working with Jude Law: “No wonder he kept that hat on. [The make-up and wig] were the worst. Poor f&#*er. I’d get to the end of the day, take my make-up and wig off, and I’d look s&*t. He’d take the make-up and wig off and look f&#*ing brilliant. And everyone would say, ‘Oh yeah! Good-looking man underneath!'”

On working with Aaron Johnson: “He is very confident. But he’s also got whatever it is, and I’m never sure quite what it is that makes an actor good, but he’s got it. It’s real. It’s a really interesting thing. If you asked him about his preparation or anything like that, I’m not quite sure what the answer would be – he’s a total wing-it, but he absolutely pulls it off. You sort of stand there and go, ‘Wow, I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you’ve really, really done it.’ It was amazing to watch.”

[From Harper’s Bazaar UK]

This probably seems rather crude of me to say, but I really love that Keira, who looks like such a proper type of woman, has a weakness for slightly obscene speech. I also can’t wait to see the rest of the shoot, which will spread over an 11-page feature. Keira looks bloody brilliant here (note to Katy Perry: this is how you go for a goth vibe), and major props to the stylist of this shoot.

Keira Knightley

Photos courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar

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37 Responses to “Keira Knightley does neo-goth on Bazaar UK cover: lovely or overdone?”

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  1. marie says:

    That does not look like Keira in the cover shot, but beautiful pictures regardless..

  2. gee says:

    I live for this makeup. I want the makeup artist for this shoot to move in with me.

  3. Kute Kim K. says:

    I don’t get her appeal. Big head, body of 12 yo boy. Next.

    • Maria_Spain says:

      +1

      why all models open their mouth like that?

      • G says:

        +1

        ITA since the day I saw her in POTC her mouth had bothered me. Pretty girl but a mouth breather when posing for pics. Don’t get me started on when she really smiles and laughs.

      • Ally says:

        Makes their face look less round, i.e. skinnier, and that female ‘ideal’ heart shape — large forehead, pointy chin.

        Also, has that come-hither (blow-up doll) element.

  4. dee says:

    I love Keira, but I’m not excited about Anna Karenina. That movie looks cheap.

    • Ally8 says:

      I find that many of the previous adaptations failed with the casting — making Karenin (the husband) too much of an ogre, etc.

      The casting is wonderful, here — a whole bunch of interesting, attractive, top-billing-caliber actors who can indeed act! (Except for Mr. Bland, Matthew McFayden.) Aaron Johnson has a great vibe for Vronsky & they styled him really well. Also: Emily Watson, Jude Law, Kelly MacDonald, Michelle Dockery & even a baby Skarsgård!

      Joe Wright’s P&P was gorgeous, but the script was care of Cliffs Notes. At least that won’t be a problem here with the stupendous Tom Stoppard penning the screenplay. I’m really looking forward to it!

  5. Ming says:

    Oh my.

    That cover photo looks like a Kristen Stewart who got dumped by Quentin Tarantino, divorced from Robert Pattinson and is sidestepped by the milk man.

    Not my thing. Looking forward to Anna Karenina, that trailer was beautiful. Great choice of music.

  6. Vivan says:

    I can see beauty in her face but I wish she’d put on a little more healthy weight. Being so frail and skinny does make her features more skeletal. I also liked her when she had lighter hair, like in the Pirate movies even though I am a die hard fan of brunettes and the dark hair romantic goth – this shoot looks great; can’t wait for the scans.

  7. Turtle Dove says:

    Gorgeous. Love the pics.

  8. Glimmer Bunny says:

    She is STUNNING. She reminds me a lot one of my favorite models, Mia Frilander. Both gorgeous.

  9. mk yarwood says:

    I love this! I want that long, velvet coat in the second picture. And the diadem. And maybe the pew. This is a 90’s throwback I can handle.

  10. trina says:

    Same pouty look with face jutted out like she has in all of her photos..to paraphrase Dorothy Parker, she runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.

    Please stop putting her in period pieces where she is too young to have a grasp of the role!!!

  11. RocketMerry says:

    Gorgeous. Really, incredibly, completly amazing and beautiful, and the shoot is very pretty, too 🙂

  12. E says:

    Since Goth chick’s place (KStew) vacated…

  13. fred says:

    Overdone photoshoot, but she is always lovely, and a wonderful interview, never banal, canned responses. I would never miss a Keira Knightley movie.

  14. TheOriginalKitten says:

    LOVE the second pic (that jcoat is killer!) but that’s it-the other pics are sort of “meh”. She has beautiful bone structure and skin.

    I like what she said about AJ-always interesting (to me at least) to hear what actors think of other actors’ acting style.

  15. bros says:

    yuck. her mouth is the most unflattering thing about her and this draws way too much attention to it. ew.

  16. T.C. says:

    Too much makeup, too much goth. The mouth open thing unless looks stupid.

  17. v says:

    Her face is amazing.

  18. Nan says:

    Gorgeous and dramatic. Love it so much!

  19. Marta says:

    the mouth is not even real, she botoxed upper lip years ago

  20. Sheigh says:

    Really love these neo-goth style pics, even if I always ask myself how her skinny shoulders carry her big head!

  21. novaraen says:

    What the heck is neo-goth?? Just because her lipstick is a slightly darker shade of red and she is wearing black?? smh

  22. Shelly says:

    I just don’t get her appeal. At all. I hate her mouth and teeth (like in the top Vogue cover photo). Something is just off there, and it really ruins her looks to my eye. They give her a skeletal look or something.

  23. anonymoose says:

    The cover is captivating, really gorgeous hair and makeup and photo! The others are good, but would like closed mouth and for this to be an actual model, NOT a young actress. She pulls off the cover, though; I credit the photographer, stylist, and the makeup artist.

    I second the offer to have the makeup artist move in with me!

  24. Palefire says:

    I like her. Cool check funny check not plastic check.

  25. Luda says:

    She looks incredible in these photos.

  26. Mary says:

    GORGEOUS please we all wish we can have her bone structure

  27. Camille (The original) says:

    Pretty photos, I LOVE that cover. And I want to do my hair like in the cover photo 🙂 .

    I also think it’s funny how KK gets a pass for swearing in interviews yet particular other actresses get bashed for doing the same thing. Hmmm.

  28. Nessa says:

    So pretty! She seems down to earth and like she is fun outrageous, but nice at the same time.

  29. Bex says:

    I really like Keira, but I really wish she’d close her mouth on occasion. Just for variety, you know??

  30. Chris says:

    How about Keira and Pattinson? Now that’d be a power couple!!!

  31. belletristia says:

    She looks beautiful and that shoot is gorgeous. I hate her.

  32. Caz1310 says:

    Beautiful. But can’t she close her mouth? 🙂