British actress Keira Knightley has topped a magazine poll as this year’s top breakout movie star. The 18-year-old beauty first came to the attention of international audiences in the sleeper hit Bend It Like Beckham and continued to wow her fans with roles in summer blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl and Love Actually. She has now just finished playing warrior Guinevere in the upcoming movie King Arthur, which is expected to expand her fan base even more. Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who chose Knightley for both Pirates of the Caribbean and King Arthur, says, “She can act. With Keira, you don’t see the wheels turning.” Bruckheimer’s sentiments have been echoed by Entertainment Weekly, which has named Knightley the top breakout star of 2003. Others named in the poll include Shia LaBeouf, Naomie Harris and Peter Dinklage.

In a startling maneuver, Fox Searchlight widened the release of the British film Bend It Like Beckham from 119 venues to 990 after 21 weeks in release — and saw it rise from 25th place to 12th with $1.8 million, bringing its domestic take to $28.3 million. The film cost $4.5 million to make. Some analysts speculated that Fox Searchlight may have been trying to capitalize on the recently found fame of 20-year-old Keira Knightley, who co-stars in Beckham and has been generating much buzz following her performance as the lady fair rescued by Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Bend It Like Beckham beauty Keira Knightley has been signed up as the new face of British luxury goods makers Asprey. Since 1781, Asprey has been known for silver, leather, porcelain, crystal, rare books and gems, and how the company is expanding into fashion and other products. Knightley will appear in November magazines for the ad campaign, which will be shot by photographer Bruce Weber. Earlier this month, the 18- year-old actress wowed onlookers when she donned $800,000 worth of Asprey diamonds to the London premiere of her latest movie Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl.

Young British star Keira Knightley is poised to sign for a role that will see her soar into the Hollywood ’superleague’. The Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl actress is wanted by superstar director Steven Spielberg to take a leading role in the fourth Jurassic Park blockbuster. Keira, 18, gushes, “It was so amazing because I’ve been a big fan of the original film for years. Steven said he liked my work in Bend It Like Beckham and wanted to meet me. I think Sam Neill really pushed for me as well, because we had worked together before on Doctor Zhivago. There were actually two roles in Jurassic Park IV that Steven thought I might fit. First there was the granddaughter part. The other was substantially larger but I won’t go into any details in case I make Steven angry.” In-demand Keira has also signed up with Spielberg’s Dreamworks production company for a role opposite Jude Law in book adaptation Tulip Fever.

Teenage beauty Keira Knightley stole the show at Monday night’s premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl in London. The stunning 18-year-old wowed onlookers in Leicester Square with a new raven-hairdo, accompanied by a black Alexander McQueen corset and $800,000 worth of Asprey diamonds, as she posed with hunky co-star Orlando Bloom - who continued the theme by donning a black suit. Knightley said at the balmy evening, “This is my first big London premiere, and it’s amazing. I can’t believe the reception. I just want to have a good time tonight. I got all dressed up - I know people would be surprised but I wore a corset again after all the similar outfits I wore for this film. But I just couldn’t resist.” Supermodel Helena Christensen and pop trio Atomic Kitten also attended the bash.