Knightley to make London stage debut in Moliere play

British actress Keira Knightley will make her debut on a London theater stage this year in a modern adaptation of French playwright Moliere's The Misanthrope.

The 24-year-old film star of Atonement and Pirates of the Caribbean will be performing at London's Comedy Theater from December 7.

The action of the original comedy will be moved from 17th century France to modern-day London.

Alceste, played by Damian Lewis, will be turned into a famous but disillusioned British playwright who vows to reject a society which he sees as shallow, producers said.

But when he falls madly in love with Jennifer (Knightley), an ambitious American film star and darling of the social scene, his intentions are quickly challenged.