Former childhood co-stars Keira Knightley and Felicity Jones reunite as they share career milestone as BAFTA nominees

By Ryan Smith for MailOnline

Published: 06:20 EST, 8 February 2015 | Updated: 09:54 EST, 8 February 2015

As Keira Knightley and Felicity Jones glam up to vie for trophies at Sunday night's highly anticipated BAFTA Awards, they'll also be enjoying something of a reunion.

Several years before becoming acclaimed leading ladies in their chosen professional field, the actresses were child co-stars in 1996 TV movie The Treasure Seekers.

Then aged 12, Felicity shared the screen with an 11-year-old Keira in the adaptation of E. Nesbit's children's classic, The Story Of The Treasure Seekers.

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Treasuring the moment: Keira Knightley, left, and Felicity Jones, right, will reunite at Sunday night's BAFTA Awards after initially meeting as children on the set of their 1996 TV movie, The Treasure Seekers

Treasuring the moment: Keira Knightley, left, and Felicity Jones, right, will reunite at Sunday night's BAFTA Awards after initially meeting as children on the set of their 1996 TV movie, The Treasure Seekers

In a still from the film, Keira, now 29, is seen in wearing her brunette hair in a series of loose ringlets, while a white ribbon is tied in a bow at the top of her elaborate hairstyle.

Wearing a white dress, she leads her pack of co-stars - including three young male co-stars and Felicity - as they stand amid rows of neatly trimmed hedges.

Showing off her early acting chops, Felicity, now 31, is seen convincingly pulling a face of distress as she looks on ahead, with her brown hair worn down with a centre parting.

The way we were: An 11-year-old Keira is seen at the front of the pack in a still from the adaptation of E. Nesbit's children's classic, The Story Of The Treasure Seekers, while Felicity, 12, stands at the back

The way we were: An 11-year-old Keira is seen at the front of the pack in a still from the adaptation of E. Nesbit's children's classic, The Story Of The Treasure Seekers, while Felicity, 12, stands at the back

What a difference: The pair have both been nominated at the BAFTAs but in different categories
What a difference: The pair have both been nominated at the BAFTAs but in different categories

 What a difference: The pair have both been nominated at the BAFTAs but in different categories 

And almost two decades later, the two will be sharing the red carpet London's Royal Opera House, as they share another milestone as BAFTA nominees.

Felicity has been nominated in the best actress category for her performance in The Theory Of Everything, while Keira is vying for a best supporting actress award after wowing critics in The Imitation Game.

Among Felicity's supporters on Sunday night will be her former drama teacher, Colin Edwards, who helped her hone her craft as a child at Central Junior Television Workshop.

Reunited: The stars were spotted catching up with each other as the SAG Awards in Los Angeles last month

Reunited: The stars were spotted catching up with each other as the SAG Awards in Los Angeles last month

'She was - and is - very photogenic, and she has that English rose look which I think was very attractive to agents,' he told The Telegraph.

'She could play much younger, so at 18 she could still play a 12-year-old. Those were assets. But she also brought an intelligent perception to her parts.

'She didn’t just go in and read the lines. She is very bright and that’s something which obviously stood in her favour. And she had a flair and a talent.'

Her most important role: Keira, seen with her husband James Righton, is currently expecting her first baby

Her most important role: Keira, seen with her husband James Righton, is currently expecting her first baby

Following Sunday night's awards, Felicity and Keira will be looking forward to the end of the February, when they will be also be vying for equally coveted Oscars.

The ladies will also be attracting eyes for their sartorial selections, after lighting up an array of red carpets between London and Hollywood as they attend awards galas and promote their films.

The season has presented an extra challenge for Keira - married to Klaxons musician James Righton - as she's currently pregnant with her first child.

Speaking recently to ELLE about her maternity style, she said: 'People do wear tight things when they're pregnant. I don't really go for that.'

'Does it [being pregnant] make it harder? It just means that you're not going to wear anything tight. Actually, the waist has disappeared, so I can't do that.'

Getting into character: Felicity, pictured with Eddie Redmayne, scooped a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Jane Hawking in the critically-acclaimed film The Theory Of Everything

Getting into character: Felicity, pictured with Eddie Redmayne, scooped a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Jane Hawking in the critically-acclaimed film The Theory Of Everything

This isn't a game: Keira, seen with (l-r) Matthew Beard, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Allen Leech has won acclaim for her role as Joan Clarke in historical thriller The Imitation Game

This isn't a game: Keira, seen with (l-r) Matthew Beard, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Allen Leech has won acclaim for her role as Joan Clarke in historical thriller The Imitation Game

 

 

 

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