Bend It Like Beckham stars making it big in US

Bend It Like Beckham, which has already grossed a surprising €22m in the US, is being re-launched there with a new advertising campaign keyed to the rising popularity of co-star Keira Knightley.

The new television advertisements refer to “Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Keira Knightley” in hopes of enticing some of the millions who have seen the hit pirate film to see the “soccer” picture.

Knightley and Parminder Nagra were relative unknowns until Bend It Like Beckham but both are now well-known in America, Knightley through Pirates Of The Caribbean and Nagra through a regular role on the hospital drama ER.

Knightley, who is currently filming King Arthur for producer Jerry Bruckheimer in Ireland, also has a role in Love, Actually, Richard Curtis's romantic comedy which stars Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson.