Keira Knightley reveals she fell asleep during filming of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

‘Love Actually’ star was just 12 when she performed in George Lucas’ derided sci-fi prequel

Keira Knightley has admitted to falling asleep while filming Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

In the widely panned sci-fi prequel, first released in 1999, Knightley played a decoy for Padmé Amidala​, the Queen of the planet Naboo.

Asked by Total Film about her time on the film, Knightley said: “I mean, I was 12. I literally don’t remember… I remember the headdress being so heavy, it gave me a headache. I really remember the headache from one of the headdresses.”

“And I remember being in the background for such a long time that I’d actually fallen asleep.”

She continued: “I was just sitting in a chair, and I was in the background, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I really remember that. But apart from that, I don’t remember anything else about it.”

The Love Actually star is just one of several high-profile actors to have appeared in the film, including Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman.

Knightley can be seen in the forthcoming drama Misbehaviour. It tells the story of the Women’s Liberation Movement’s actions during the live TV broadcast of the Miss World beauty pageant in 1970.