UNITED KINGDOM: Actress Keira Knightley reacts to news of her Golden Globe

An amazed Keira Knightley spoke about her Golden Globe Best Actress nomination on Tuesday (December 13). The 20-year-old British star has been shortlisted for her performance as Elizabeth Bennet in 'Pride and Prejudice.' While Knightley said she was shell shocked at the nomination, her mother's reaction should keep her grounded. "I called my mum and said 'Ooh I've been nominated for a Golden Globe' and she said 'Oh, that's lovely, that's lovely - you're not going to win, but that's lovely.' But she said that she'd buy me a bottle of champagne, so that's okay - I can't complain," said Knightley. Knightley, who shot to fame in 2002 with 'Bend It Like Beckham', revealed she didn't want to play Jane Austen's heroine at first. "I have been obsessed with the book and with the character since I was seven, but I really didn't want to play it at all, because I didn't want to let her down and I didn't think I was ready for that kind of a lead role or anything like that, and it was my agent Lindy who just went 'No you're doing it,' and I went 'No I'm not,' and she went 'No no no you're going to do it, you'll regret it if you don't do it, you're doing it,' Knightley recalled. "She's now sitting in the other room, very smug indeed - and she has a right to be because she was right and I'm very glad that she made me do it." She will compete with fellow British star Dame Judi Dench for the prize of best actress in a musical or comedy. Dame Judi, a two times Golden Globe winner, is nominated for her starring role as a theatre owner in Mrs Henderson Presents. Both British films have been nominated for best musical or comedy picture. Despite being thrilled about being a contender for the Award, Knightley says she hasn't thought too much about the effect the nomination will have on her career. "I think you can only go with the flow," she said. "I've been really lucky with the roles I've got already - and that was without any kind of nomination, so I've been doing all right, so hopefully I'll carry on getting some good ones but you never know what's out there, you never know what your'e going to get, or what's going to happen, so I think you can only go with the flow and play the parts that are offered to you." The Golden Globes are seen as a strong tip for Oscar glory. ENDS.

ITN Source | December 16, 2005

Tags:. .winner. .roles. .oh. .grounded. .december