You are only 27 years old. Why is there such a craving for girls from the past?
The past has a huge plus, it leaves you more freedom. When you are filming something modern, you know everything about people, about politics, you know how to behave and how to dress. Leaving in the past, you cannot take with you any things or habits, you do not understand anything there, but you cannot get out of there either. It's scary, like claustrophobia, but it allows you to fully concentrate on the heroine, on emotions - and without morality, without any judgments. Historical pictures can tell more about human qualities.
How is Karenina's human qualities?
So-so. On the one hand, this is a film about a terrible, deceitful, manipulating woman. But nothing prevents from saying about her: "Wonderful, loving, inspired by wonderful feelings." Each of us can be in her place. I remember a phrase from the film "Dead Poets Society": "We read to find out that we are not alone." This is the only difference between great books, films and plays from temporary ones.
"True love is a flash of passion that makes you lose your head"
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A photo
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Shot from the film "Anna Karenina"
Which side of Anna is closer to you?
Each one. And it is mesmerizing. Any woman can decide to go mad. We perceive love as something romantic, breathtaking, as something with amazing sex. And that's what we're usually shown. But no one likes to remember the other side of love, where there is jealousy, madness, loneliness and pain. Anna saw both.
What do you think Leo Tolstoy understood about love?
It seems to us that true love is a flash of passion, a hobby from which you lose your head. Blinded by our senses, we think it will always be this way. But this is nonsense! Tolstoy lowers everyone to the ground, showing those sides of love that we prefer not to think about.
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A photo
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Shot from the film "Anna Karenina"
You are going to marry Alex Chang (musician from the English band Klaxons). Is your own love in Anna?
Not. Actors don't rely on personal experience. They are more helped by a general understanding of the character's situation. Everything in your life can go well, and at the same time you were given the role of a dull, completely insignificant person. It was not enough for your biographies to intersect with him!
But bad heroines may well ruin the actress's personal life
Yes, it was not easy for me with Anna Karenina. It was necessary to maintain a certain level of emotional intensity, which is not so easy to throw off afterwards. Karenina has made her way into my life further than I would have liked. She spoiled my mood.
You probably hated her?
It would have been impossible in another way. Especially when I admitted that I could well do the same if I were in her place. Karenina gave me the opportunity to look at myself from the outside. Am I manipulating people the same way? And yet I don't think I have the right to condemn her.
Even for leaving her little son?
We like to think that we will never do that. But who knows? People are not perfect. We do unexpected things that are contrary to our moral principles, but we are not ready to forgive mistakes of other people.
Do you always follow your passions?
No not always. But it happens - it's a sin to hide. If I say that I never behave like an egoist, you won't believe me? And I want you to believe me - otherwise I would not have become an actress.
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A photo
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Shot from the film "Anna Karenina"
What do you like?
Lots of things. Music, books, travel, food …
Food? What you eat?
I do not eat, I cook - according to the recipes of Yotam Ottolengi (popular English chef - approx. MS). I tried almost everything from his book.
Are you a vegetarian?
No, and that's great!
What about music?
We recently had an 80s style party. This song was playing there: "Al-bu-ker-ke …" God forbid, I can't remember who sings this!
Prefab Sprout?
Exactly! So we listened to her. I really liked it.
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A photo
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Shot from the film "Anna Karenina"
Who influenced you in your youth?
Not who, but what - the movie Much Ado About Nothing by Kenneth Branagh. I still remember it by heart. I was eight or nine years old then. Then I watched Hamlet by the same director. I also liked the actress Emma Thompson, especially in Howards End and Sense and Sensibility. She played amazingly!
They say you are going to star in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Gray? It's pornography
Rave. I haven't even read this book. But what I've heard about her is complete bullshit.
What is your greatest achievement?
I do not even know. I never thought about it. I cannot say that I have somehow reached incredible heights. It is impossible to do something that will please everyone. At school, there were no other marks for me, except for fives. But in life, it is almost impossible to get the highest mark. Even if I get an Oscar, there will be someone who will say, "I hate this mediocre actress!"
The film "Anna Karenina" starring Keira Knightley will be released on January 10. However, the picture can already be seen in some cinemas in the country. Anna Karenina is interesting not only for the new reading of the classic Russian novel by Leo Tolstoy, but also for the costumes of the main character, inspired by the fashion of the 1950s.