Manchester's own Keira Knightley....

As loathed as I am to compare her to the star of "Bend It Like Beckham", the "Pirates Of The Carribean" movies and "The Duchess", Holly Grainger's elevation to movies from TV puts her into the spotlight enough for industry insiders to see her as a Manchester actress rising to A-List stardom within the space of eighteen months. Up until "Awaydays", Miss Grainger's career was firmly attached to small and supporting roles in TV.
Her presence at the 2009 British Independent Film Awards ceremony is the clearest indication that "The Scouting Book For Boys", in which she has the lead female role, is going to be the springboard towards more British movies and could possibly move her towards American films. It is far from certain from happening, but if her second motion picture brings her fully to the attention of multiplex audiences, then it will only be a matter of time before Hollywood comes knocking at her door.