Keira Knightley stars in ad campaign against domestic violence

Keira Knightley is shown suffering a shocking assault in a new TV and cinema ad campaign about domestic violence for the charity Women's Aid.

Knightley, rarely seen on- or off-screen as anything other than polished and glamorous, is attacked by her partner in the disturbing two-minute commercial, made by Joe Wright, who directed the star in the films Atonement and Pride and Prejudice.

"I wanted to take part in this advert for Women's Aid because while domestic violence exists in every section of society we rarely hear about it," said Knightley. "Domestic violence affects one in four women at some point in their lifetime and kills two women every week."

The extended ad, which will debut on 6 April in 15-plus films in cinemas nationwide, opens with Knightley heading home from a long day of filming.

When she gets home she is assaulted, verbally and physically, by her partner, who accuses her of having a relationship with a co-star.

The commercial, made by ad agency Grey London, pans out to show that the scene is in fact occurring on a film set – but with no one else around. The ad ends with Knightley screaming and the strapline: "Isn't it time someone called cut?"

Knightley and Wright, who also directed the actor in a glamorous commercial for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, have donated their time to make the commercial for free.

The campaign, which also includes poster ads, will run on TV. However, Grey London is still in negotiations with Clearcast, the body that clears ads for broadcast, over editing and any transmission restrictions that will apply to the commercial.

Grey London is aiming to keep the graphic images of the beating in the TV campaign, which will break in mid-April, to maintain the impact of the message.

In 2007, the agency created a shocking and much-publicised press and poster campaign for Women's Aid featuring celebrities including Jemma Kidd, Fiona Bruce and Anna Friel made-up to look as if their faces were covered in bruises from domestic violence.

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