Fifty Shades of No Way: Keira Knightley rules herself out of playing Anastasia Steele

From Anna Karenina to Ana Steele? Apparently, not...

Keira Knightley has ruled herself out of the Fifty Shades of Grey films (Reuters)

The spanking scene in David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method is (quite understandably) as far as Keira Knightley is prepared to venture into the world of S&M for her career. The actress has ruled herself out of the running for a film adaptation of EL James’ Fifty Shades of Grey.

“You know, I normally don't like to give a definite about anything [but] I can definitely say [my next movie] will not be Fifty Shades of Grey,” she said in an interview with MTV.

Ever since the rights to the literary trilogy branded “mummy porn” were sold to Hollywood, speculation has been rife over who will be cast to play the two central roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steel.

Bookies are taking odds on big name actresses from Mila Kunis to Emma Watson to play the submissive Ana. But all bets on Knightley should be firmly off.

When the interviewer inquired as to why she wouldn’t consider the role, Knightley joked: “I can't imagine why!” before admitting “Um, I haven't even read it yet, actually.”

She added: “I mean, just from [what I've heard], friends who've gotten into it, and I've gone, ‘No.’ I did A Dangerous Method. That had a bit of all that in it. I don't think I need to do it again.”

Knightley most recently appeared in the Joe Wright-directed adaptation of Anna Karenina.

Over 60 million copies of the Fifty Shades of Grey books have been sold.

Ryan Gosling, Henry Cavill and Alexander Skarsgard are among the actors hotly tipped to play Christian. Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford yesterday told press that he would be keen to take on the role.