Keira Knightley needed movie rest

Keira Knightley decided to reduce her movie workload because she was suffering from "exhaustion".

The 'Never Let Me Go' actress - who in the past has admitted she can see herself moving away from acting altogether - made the decision she needed a year off from lead roles after she was left drained after playing Georgiana Cavendish in 2008's 'The Duchess'.

She explained: "After I did 'The Duchess' I was absolutely exhausted and I just went, 'OK, I need to stop'. So I took a year off and I've been playing a lot of supporting roles recently.

"I haven't taken a lead, and I think that's partly because of that need to find a balance."

However, the 25-year-old star - who split from her boyfriend of five years Rupert Friend in December - accepts she is "incredibly privileged" to be able to pick and choose when she works.

Keira added: "I'm in an incredibly privileged position where I can choose my work. I suppose I'm looking to be stimulated in things that I can put myself into which teach me something about myself and the world."