2010-02-08 09:32:23 -

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY's heavily criticised stint in a London production of THE = MISANTHROPE has earned her a nomination for one of Britain's Laurence Oli= vier Awards.
The actress has been hit with a slew of bad reviews for her part in

an = adaptation of the Moliere classic, which marked her debut on the West End= stage and is currently playing at the Comedy Theatre.
But the poor reviews haven't stopped Knightley from being named in the = Best Supporting Actress category by jurors of the prestigious Olivier Awa= rds, the highest honours in British theatre.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star will compete against Hayley Atwell (A= View From The Bridge), Michelle Dockery (Burnt By The Sun), Alexandra Gi= lbreath (Twelfth Night), Rachael Stirling (The Priory) and Ruth Wilson (A= Streetcar Named Desire).
Meanwhile Hollywood actress Rachel Weisz was shortlisted for a Best Act= ress prize for her performance as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Des= ire, and will go up against Gillian Anderson (A Doll's House), Imelda Sta= unton (Entertaining Mr Sloane), Lorraine Burroughs (The Mountaintop) and = Juliet Stevenson (Duet For One).
Jude Law's turn in Hamlet faces competition from James Earl Jones in Ca= t On A Hot Tin Roof, James McAvoy for Three Days Of Rain, Mark Rylance (J= erusalem), Ken Stott (A View From The Bridge) and Samuel West (Enron).
In the musical categories, former Spice Girls star Melanie Chisholm is = up for a Best Actress statue for her role in Blood Brothers, while Rowan = Atkinson's stint as Fagin in Oliver! has scored him a Best Actor nod.
The winners will be named in a ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hot= el on 21 March (10).