Fiennes, Knightley shine in ‘The Duchess’

“The Duchess” is a royal beauty.

Sumptuously appointed, deftly acted by its leads Keira Knightley and especially Ralph Fiennes and based on a juicy true story, this historical drama about an ancestor of the late Princess Diana draws eerie similarities between the two fascinating Spencer women. The parallels between their lives lends the picture modern resonance — even if this kind of fussy, formal British talky won’t necessarily appeal to a broad multiplex audience.

Adapted from the book “Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire” by Amanda Foreman, the authentic costume epic is directed and co-written by Saul Dibb with co-scripters Jeffrey Hatcher and Anders Thomas Jensen.