KEIRA KNIGHTLEY - KNIGHTLEY UNSURPRISED BY BAFTA SNUB

KNIGHTLEY UNSURPRISED BY BAFTA SNUB

ATONEMENT star KEIRA KNIGHTLEY was not surprised she lost out on the coveted Best Actress prize at the BAFTA awards - as MARION COTILLARD deserved to win. The 22-year-old had been tipped to land the gong for her role in the romantic drama but Sunday's (10Feb08) ceremony in London saw the prize awarded to Cotillard for La Vie En Rose. But Knightley, who also recently lost out on an expected Oscar nomination for Atonement, was a gracious loser - insisting Cotillard was a more apt choice. She says, "Marion (Cotillard) is my hero at the moment. She's amazing in La Vie En Rose." Atonement had been expected to sweep the board at the BAFTAs with 14 nominations overall - but the picture only succeeded in scooping two awards, one for Best Film and one for production design.