Keira Knightley's eldest daughter asked the star to draw a bird taking away her sister

During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday (31.10.25), Keira said of the inspiration behind the book: "My eldest daughter didn't like sleeping at all, so every night for months I drew her a picture that she could wake up to.

"Then she started asking for specific things, including a bird that could take the baby away."

She then quipped: "I thought I had better write a book so I could get the baby back!"

Keira - who has Edie and Delilah with her 42-year-old husband, musician James Righton - is dyslexic.

And really detailed drawings help lines get ingrained in the star's brain.

She explained: "I draw a lot - I am dyslexic, so I learn my lines by listening to them, and while I am listening, I draw. The more detailed the drawing, the better the lines go into my head."

Elsewhere in her interview on the BBC late-night talk show, Keira revealed fans still love talking to her about the movie Bend It Like Beckham.

She said: "It's mainly little girls. They love it because women's football has become such a huge thing now. I also get a lot of football players saying how much they love the movie, which is lovely."

However, Edie and Delilah would prefer to watch a real game of women's football instead of the 2002 comedy-sport film.

Keira - who played Juliette Paxton in Bend It Like Beckham - said: "I keep trying to get my own girls to watch it, but they are like, 'You're okay, we'll watch the Euros instead!'"

Bend It Like Beckham followed Juliette and Jess (Parminder Nagra), who have a passion for football, and the two women end up on the same team, and they strike up a friendship.

Juliette crushes on a coach, and Jess secretly plays football without her parents' permission.

And Keira recently said it felt "amazing" to have been a part of the movie, which inspired many women to play football.

She told People: "I think it's so amazing that a film that was made nearly 25 years ago, it's still the one that if someone comes up to me, it's about that film.

"Particularly so many girls do play [soccer] now, and they want to come up and talk about it.

"So it's amazing to be a part of something that has, kind of, legacy and that positivity around it."

The Graham Norton Show, BBC One and iPlayer, Friday 31st October 10.40pm.