Keira Knightley's Diana denial

Aug 26, 2008, 4:00 GMT

06/18/2008 - Keira Knightley - 62nd Annual Edinburgh International Film Festival - "The Edge of Love" Premiere - Arrivals - Cineworld, Fountain Park - Edinburgh, Scotland © Solarpix / PR Photos

Keira Knightley has denied her character in 'The Duchess' reflects Princess Diana.

The actress - who plays Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire in the 18th century period drama - has blasted a trailer for her latest film, which compares her character to the late royal. Spencer was a distant relation of Diana, but the film makes no reference to her.

Keira, 23, said: "I am Georgiana. I am not Diana. The film is not about Diana, Georgiana is an incredible person on her own without need to draw parallels."

The trailer for 'The Duchess' juxtaposes a clip of Princess Diana - who tragically died in a car accident 1997 - with one of Georgiana. It also features the tag line 'The two were related by ancestry and united by destiny' before a voiceover says: "History repeats itself."

Keira admits there are parallels between socialite Georgiana and Diana, but is adamant the princess - who tragically died in a Paris car crash in 1997 - was not an inspiration for her character.

She added: "Georgina was incredibly glamorous, obviously, and politically she was incredibly influential. But also incredibly vulnerable, and she's really navigating her way through a marriage that is entirely loveless."

The film's director Saul Dibb, and the author of the book which it is based on Amanda Foreman, are also upset by the trailer. Dibb blames "the marketing men", while Foreman described it as "a bad joke."

Foreman added: "There is absolutely no reason to have done this trailer. The marketing people probably thought the only way they could get the young popcorn-eating brigade to see this film was if they made some comparison with Diana. But they did not need to and should not have done it. Trailers should be what the film is about. But in this case, the trailer is not connected to the film."

'The Duchess' is in UK cinemas from September 5.