Academy Award-nominated actress Keira Knightley has opened up about the specific on-set rules governing her romantic screen kiss with comedian Joe Wilkinson in this year's heartwarming Waitrose Christmas advertisement.
The Festive Rom-Com Rules
Speaking candidly on the latest episode of the Dish by Waitrose podcast, the 40-year-old star laid out her clear-cut 'etiquette' for filming intimate scenes. The cornerstone of her policy is an unambiguous 'no tongue' rule, which she reiterated multiple times for emphasis. 'Tongue? No tongue. I mean, there was no tongue! The rule is no tongue. Waitrose Xmas no tongue,' Knightley stated.
She elaborated that basic courtesy extends to dietary choices before a scene. 'You're not having garlic for lunch,' she advised, unless you harbour a strong dislike for your co-star, in which case 'as much garlic as possible' becomes fair game. For her festive pairing with the 50-year-old comedian, however, the atmosphere was far more congenial. 'We were both minty fresh,' she confirmed.
A Kiss Thwarted by an 'Amazing Beard'
The smooch in question features in 'The Perfect Gift', a four-minute mini-movie for the upmarket supermarket that pays direct homage to Richard Curtis's beloved romantic comedies, particularly Love Actually. Directed by Bafta-winner Molly Manners, the advert casts Wilkinson as shy singleton Phil, who finds the courage to pursue a lovelorn version of Knightley, played by the actress herself in cosy winter attire.
Their charming story culminates in Phil cooking Keira's nan's turkey pie for her, followed by a classic, passionate rom-com kiss. Reflecting on the moment, Knightley revealed a unique logistical challenge: Joe Wilkinson's facial hair. 'He's got such a large beard that I couldn't get close to his mouth,' she laughed, noting her children asked about the kiss while watching Traitors together. 'I was like "Kind of! I sort of bounced off the beard". I don't think I got beyond the beard. It is a thick beard. An amazing beard.'
She also dispelled any notion that her co-star was nervous about the lip-lock, suggesting he was more apprehensive about the dancing required in the advert. 'I think he was fine with that... he really went for it and was great.'
Waitrose's 'Love Language' of Food
The advert, filmed in the real Waitrose branch in Kingston, Surrey, is designed to blend quintessential British wholesomeness with the retailer's premium food credentials. It follows Phil's meet-cute with Knightley over a block of Sussex Charmer Mature Cheddar, leading to a montage of snowy walks, cosy sofa moments, and the exchange of heartfelt, edible gifts.
In a playful nod to Knightley's iconic Love Actually scene, her character presents Phil with homemade biscuits decorated with bushy icing beards. 'They're all of me!' Phil exclaims, mirroring Juliet's line about being the object of Mark's silent affection. After a classic rom-com misunderstanding, Phil's grand gesture is baking the Waitrose No 1 Festive Turkey Pie (priced at £8.95 for two), based on Keira's nan's recipe, leading to the final, beard-buffered kiss at her doorstep in the snow.
The campaign's core message, according to Waitrose, is food as a love language, proving that a heartfelt homemade pie can win over a film star. For Knightley and Wilkinson, it was all executed with minty-fresh breath, zero garlic, and strictly no tongue.
