Keira Knightley to star in new film of My Fair Lady

Keira Knightley has beaten Scarlett Johansson to land the part of the Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle in a new film adaptation of My Fair Lady. The 24-year-old actress will star in the film which is being directed by Joe Wright.  This is the role played by Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 film.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who is producing the film with Duncan Kenworthy, has been playing his casting cards to his chest and would only say “I have two actresses as potential Elizas - one British, the other American. You would know their names, but I’m not letting on”.  But it now seems that Keira has won the part.

Emma Thompson is writing the film’s script and rumour has it that Daniel Craig is being approached to play Professor Henry Higgins (originally played by Rex Harrison).