Natalie Dormer's first big film role involves two of her favorite things: history and playing with long, shiny blades. The 23-year-old Londoner stars alongside Heath Ledger and Sienna Miller in Lasse Hallstrom's new 17th-century period comedy, Casanova, which tracks the exploits of legendary Venetian lover Giacomo Casanova (Ledger), a ladies' man who avoids prosecution by the Inquisition for his voracious sex drive by promising to marry--and remain faithful to--one woman, Victoria, played to scene-stealing effect by Dormer.

Born and raised in Reading, England, Dormer describes herself as the academic hopeful of her family. Although she did well in school--and history class in particular--she moved to London at the age of 18 to study stage drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. "The swordplay in Casanova is beautiful. I'm actually disappointed that there isn't more," says Dormer. "I suppose I'm quite violent. I took a stage combat class at school and developed quite a sword collection."

Although she enjoys making movies, like many a budding British thespian, her first love is theater. Nevertheless, any kind of work that allows her to explore her craft is good work, as far as she's concerned. "I know people think that acting is not quite the occupation of grown-ups," says Dormer. "But it is actually the ultimate learning process: You get a multitude of experiences, all for the price of one life."

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