Keira Knightley warns: 'I'm moody'

She's often plays a demure English rose onscreen, but in real life Keira Knightley has admitted she spends a lot of her time being very cranky indeed.

The 22-year-old issued a warning to all: "I'm a moody bastard."

As if to reinforce the point, Keira spent much of her interview with Elle magazine bemoaning her treatment by the press, mobile phones and even the word "cute".

She said: "I've been banned from reading newspapers because the way they're written angers me so much.

"If I want an opinion, I'll read the opinion part of the newspaper.

"I do not want it when I'm trying to get the facts. I get incredibly angry. It really f---s me off. See, I have to calm down about it."

The Atonement star then moved her fury on to mobile phones, saying: "I hate them. It rings, and then I realize that I don't want to talk to anyone. So I always press ignore."

Even the English language got a battering.

She said: "I hate cute, I've always hated cutesy."

"My mum used to ban the word cute. Absolutely banned."

Keira, who has recently been filming an 18th century drama called The Duchess alongside Ralph Finnes, continued to work herself into a lather after she was asked about her sexual powers.

She said: "Oh, my god. I don't think I'm aware of it now! No... I'm lying. I don't know why I said that.

"No, I'm not lying, actually. I'll just have an argument with myself!"

Perhaps Keira just needs a little lie down.