Knightley criticises fame-seekers

"It frightens me when kids go, 'I want to be famous,'" the 22-year-old told the Radio Times.

"Why? Because you can get into a restaurant? You know what? If you book, you can get into a restaurant!"

Earlier this year, Knightley said she had considered quitting acting because of the pressures of fame.

Speaking to the Radio Times, she again attacked the media's obsession with her looks.

"Okay, I'm on the cover of a magazine but somebody else does the hair, and the make-up, and airbrushes me.

"It's not me, it's something other people have created."

The actress added that she preferred to watch films from 50 years ago because she prefers not to know about the actors' private lives.

"The magic is in the screen, not knowing what's behind it, because that ruins the magic," she said.

Oscar nomination

Knightley's latest film, Atonement, opens the Venice Film Festival later this month, where it is in contention for the event's top prize, the Golden Lion.

Based on an Ian McEwan novel, it reunites the actress with Pride and Prejudice director Joe Wright.

That film won four Oscar nominations in 2006, including a best actress nomination for Knightley.

The British actress agreed she had come a long way since her breakthrough role in 2002's Bend It Like Beckham - which saw critics belittle her acting ability.

"I completely agreed on every level," she admitted, adding: "I didn't go to drama school, so I didn't get the training.

"It was difficult to get over that: 'What am I doing? I'm pretending that I can do this and everybody's telling me I can't.'"

Speaking of Atonement, Knightley said: "It's the first film I've done where I've actually felt any confidence whatsoever."

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