‘I was transfixed by her growing up’: We spoke to the Keira Knightley guy from TikTok

Celebrity impressions are a tricky one to get right – that much is evident from the countless shows we’ve seen crash and burn on our screens over the last few years (Spitting Image? No thanks). Well, there’s quite a selection on TikTok too as it happens, but amongst the lacklustre Gordon Ramsay and [insert other boring celebrity here] impersonators sits a man whose impression is so spot on it has taken the app by storm. We are, of course, talking about Luke Millington-Drake, the guy who absolutely SMASHES the Keira Knightley impression.

I mean really, they must be brother and sister at least? The way he brings his jaw slightly forward, thins his lips and contorts his face is nothing short of miraculous, so we wanted to know exactly how Luke discovered this impressive gift and why he decided now was the time to share it with the world.

@lukemillingtondrakeComing soon! ##comedy ##comedyvideo ##tiktokcomedy ##comedytiktok ##impression ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##pov ##romcom ##movie ##british ##britishcomedy ##love♬ original sound – Luke Millington-Drake

When did Luke discover that he could do such a remarkable Keira Knightley impression? As it turns out, this is something that has been in the works for many many years: “Growing up I was transfixed by [Keira] on-screen and would copy her in the mirror as a way to practice acting. It wasn’t until I did a show a few years ago here in LA where I had to do an impression.

“Keira was the only thing I could think of – and I was shocked by how well it was received.”

And well-received it is – his videos on TikTok have been cumulatively liked 4.3 million times with his biggest video racking up over three million views. But just how on earth does one come up with such ridiculous phrases as “effervescent ball of silliness” and “brill-o-pads, pads-a-brillo”? It all harks back to the period pieces that Keira is most closely associated with: “When I think of Keira – I think of period dramas, as I’m sure many other people do. She is the queen of anything period.

@lukemillingtondrakeKeira’s big day! ##comedy ##comedyvideo ##tiktokcomedy ##comedytiktok ##british ##keiraknightley ##fyp ##foryoupage ##foryou ##wedding ##cake ##champagne♬ original sound – Luke Millington-Drake

“So the language I use for the videos derives from that older way of speaking and conversing. I love silliness in comedy and the cake tasting certainly felt very silly. I’m just so grateful with the response!”

The half-English half-American actor attributes his love of performance to his art teacher at school, who introduced him to an artist Cindy Sherman: “I became completely obsessed by the performative aspect of her photography. She uses costumes and makeup in a way that was so fascinating to me – so I try to bring that performance art aspect into my character and acting work.”

@lukemillingtondrakeOne reaction I got..##comedy ##comedyvideo ##tiktokcomedy ##comedytiktok ##sketchcomedy ##lgbthistorymonth ##comingout ##comingofage ##foryou ##fyp ##foryoupage♬ original sound – Luke Millington-Drake

So what can we expect in the future from Luke/Keira? Well, the festive period is not too far away so you might be able to expect a certain Christmas classic to get the treatment: “I don’t tend to plan too far into the future – I really just go with whatever pops into my head – but I can say, of course, Keira in Love Actually is coming soon!”

I’m already planning the petition to get them onscreen together.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• We spoke to *that* TikTok artist who draws people on the subway every day

• I tried to go viral on TikTok in just one week and here’s what happened

• We found MC Monty from the ‘I was sitting in the gaff and I had no f***ing clue’ TikTok