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?
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.
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.