W February 2008
Keira Knightley and James McAvoy
By Steven Klein

The latter is the cover going out on subscription copies.

The interview;

Keira & James

Thanks to their powerful performances in Atonement, Keira Knightley and James McAvoy might just be the most talked about young stars in hollywoodand theyve hardly spent any time there. While americas twentysomething celebs are busy breaking up, making up and cracking up, These two hot brits are showing us how a-list is done.

Its a snowy December afternoon in New York, and Keira Knightley and James McAvoy are huddled over a plate of Chinese dumplings, still recovering from the previous nights carousing at the West Villages trendy Beatrice Inn. I tried to get pissed so I could sleep in, but I still woke up at eight. Im so hungover, says Knightley, sighing. Her skin glowing, her hair shiny and her eyes without the slightest trace of red, she looks no worse for the wear.

I didnt get in till five, counters McAvoy, his Scottish brogue making till sound like the shade of greenish blue. There was really good dancing. We dominated the dance floor. And I lost my phone. Some woman named Stephanie picked it up in a car. Ive been spending the whole morning on the phone going, Stephanie? Stephanie? Can you hear me? Its a bad connection but dont hang up!

Knightley and McAvoy may sound like just another pair of underemployed, hard-partying twentysomethings, the type who can stay out until the wee hours and sleep all day without consequence. But in fact, the opposite is true. The two are in the States to promote Atonement, the Joe Wrightdirected adaptation of Ian McEwans much loved novel, and because the film has garnered the sort of advance buzz that makes studio heads dream about statuettes, McAvoy and Knightley are being trotted around New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco like a pair of prize ponies.

Last nights dance floor domination, coming as it did after multiple photo shoots and interviews, was a much needed chance to blow off some steam.

McAvoy, whos been at it for a week longer than Knightley because she was wrapping up her next film, The Duchess, seems particularly fed up. I do find it strange, doing magazine shoots, he says. Photographers always go, Why dont you like to have your picture taken? Thats what you do for a living anyway. Just pretend youre acting. Its the same thing! And Im like, No, its f---ing not! Give me a script then. Or tell you what, how about if I just stand here, and you pretend Im acting? Would that make it easier for you?

Onscreen, as ill-fated lovers Robbie Turner and Cecilia Tallis, the two have a palpable sexual chemistry, with one scene involving them, both dressed in black-tie finery, furtively going at it while slammed up against a bookcase. In person, however, McAvoy and Knightley come off more like siblings, with the preternaturally poised actress seeming more like the elder sister, though shes 22 to his 28. When asked what it was like working with Knightley, for example, McAvoy quips, She has smelly feet! before hastily adding, Im just kidding. Please dont put that in.