Knightley No Longer Considering 'My Fair Lady' Flick

Although Keira Knightley was never officially offered the part of Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming film adaptation of My Fair Lady, rumors were afloat that she would step into the role ever since she met with producers Cameron Mackintosh and Duncan Kenworthy. According to the U.K. Daily Mail, she has now officially withdrawn herself from consideration for the role because she feels the project is taking too long to get off the ground.

Keira Knightley has established herself as one of the most talented and versatile screen actresses of her generation. Having first come to the audience's attention in the surprise film hit Bend It Like Beckham she has gone on to star in Joe Wright's award-winning film Atonement with James McAvoy, The Duchess, The Edge Of Love with Sienna Miller, Domino, The Jacket, Pride And Prejudice and as the feisty Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. She has recently completed filming on the movies Never Let Me Goand the highly anticipated London Boulevard both due for release later this year. Her television credits include the critically acclaimed remake of Doctor Zhivago, Oliver and Coming Home.

John Madden, director of Shakespeare in Love and The Debt, will direct My Fair Lady, and recent rumored candidates for the role of Doolittle include Carey Mulligan, Gemma Arterton and Emily Blunt. Filming is said to commence later this year in London.