Apocalypse with laughs

The directorial debut of Lorene Scafaria, Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World is a dark comedy with stars like Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. The 27-year-old Knightley, recently seen in challenging roles like A Dangerous Method, also stars in Anna Karenina, based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel. Here, the actress talks about how Seeking A Friend For the End of the World gave her one of her most positive roles and why comedy can be challenging.

What is your character like in the movie?

My role is the polar opposite of Sabina Spielrein (the character in David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method). As Penny, a British expat stuck on the wrong side of the Atlantic as the apocalypse draws near, she’s a shaft of hope in a world of misery - which rubs Steve Carell’s morose hero the wrong way.

What was it like to film the riot scene for the movie?

I’m a good driver, right, but I don’t have a car in London, so I don’t drive that much, and I’ve never really driven in film before, so I had never experienced the whole driving and acting at the same time. It resulted in me actually driving really badly and nearly killing Steve, by slamming my foot on the brake...

If it really was the end of the world what would you be doing?

People have been asking me that. I’d like to think that I’d be really happy, drinking margaritas and dancing somewhere beautiful with a lot of friends, but actually I think I’d be terrified.

Do you find yourself drawn more to dramas or comedies?

I enjoy drama more. I like tragedies. Comedy is an incredible skill. It’s very difficult, definitely.

The movie is scheduled to release this month.