It is fitting that Keira Knightley should take the leading role in Colette, which charts the life and struggles of Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, regarded by some as one of the founders of feminism.

Here is a role that allows the 33-year-old English actress a chance to prove her range - portraying a woman who ages across the movie - from 19 to 34 years - and who undergoes a transformation from homely country girl to a fiercely provocative libertine and trail blazer. The film opens today.