Keira’s Duchess woos critics

Good reviews for her role as Georgiana Spencer in The Duchess sent Keira Knightley down the red carpet with a spring in her step yesterday. Wearing an off-the-shoulder number in cornflower blue, she was greeted by screaming fans at the film's premiere in Leicester Square. Georgiana, an 18th Century noblewoman who embarked on a loveless marriage to the Duke of Devonshire (played by Ralph Fiennes), was the great-great-great-great aunt of Princess Diana.

Discussing the reviews, the 23-year-old actress said: "It's much better than people saying you're awful. It was a very exciting character to play."

The success of the film was accompanied by another piece of good news – the actress came first in a poll of celebrity pouts. Of this dubious honour, she said: "I don't pout to be sexy. I do it when I'm concentrating. I think it makes me look constipated."