Originally, Keira Knightley's parents didn't want her to audition for "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" since it was a big step from her previous TV roles to film and they feared it would be a negative experience. But since the opportunity was for a "Star Wars" movie, Knightley won the argument with her parents, and as a result, won the role of Sabé.
While "The Phantom Menace" was no doubt a high-profile film to make her big-screen debut in, Knightley admits that she has very few memories of it. "I mean, I was 12. I literally don't remember ... I remember the headdress being so heavy, it gave me a headache," Knightley told Total Film in a 2020 interview. "... I remember being in the background for such a long time that I'd actually fallen asleep. 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."
Fans hoping for more memories from Knightley should temper their expectations. The actor told Coming Soon in 2020 that she's only seen "The Phantom Menace" only once, which was in theaters when the film premiered in 1999. "And I never saw it again. I hope she lived a long and happy life somewhere in a planet far, far away," Knightley told the publication.
Knightley wasn't the only star who turned up in the "Star Wars" film. Fans may also forget Sofia Coppola appeared in "The Phantom Menace" as one of Amidala's other handmaidens.
