Knightley petrified by alleged stalker

Keira Knightley was left petrified by an alleged stalker who bombarded her with gifts and letters, a court heard.

Marek Daniluk, 41, has been charged with harassment after waiting for the 24-year-old actress outside the theatre where she is performing.

On one occasion it is claimed that the Polish national, who is understood to have mental health problems, grabbed the Pirates of the Caribbean star's arm and demanded she answer questions he had posed in his notes.

One of the letters is believed to have contained "inappropriate" content. In her statement to police, Knightley, who is appearing in Molière's The Misanthrope at the West End's Comedy Theatre, said she had become "worried and distressed" by his behaviour at the stage door.

He was arrested on Thursday night. Knightley has in the past spoken of her unease at being approached by strangers.

Two years ago, she revealed she had left Britain for the US after discovering she had five stalkers.

She said at the time: "I've no way of knowing if they could be potential rapists. I'm frightened every time I see one of them."

Keira nominated

Keira Knightley has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her debut West End stage performance of The Misanthrope.The actress is up against Hayley Atwell, Michelle Dockery, Alexandra Gilbreath, Rachael Stirling and Ruth Wilson.