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Keira Knightley's Oscar dress auction - Helps to raise money for Oxfam Starts today at 5pm

21 April 2006

Keira Knightley's Oscar dress will go on sale in an exclusive eBay auction at 5pm today. The deep-claret taffeta silk gown worn by Keira at the Oscar ceremony in LA in March will be available for bids on line at w ww.oscardress4oxfam.org

The auction begins on the day that Oxfam Ireland launches its Kenya: Countdown to Disaster appeal. Oxfam Ireland has just launched an innovative and original initiative - www.whocaresaboutkenya.org to highlight both the current food crisis in Kenya putting 3.5 million people at risk and the underlying causes as to why in this world of plenty this is happening again and again.

Keira Knightley said:
"This is such an amazing dress and I am really pleased to be able to donate it to Oxfam. I have seen the TV reports on the horrendous drought in East Africa and I know how desperate things have become, so I am happy to be able to do something to help."

Vera Wang, the dress's designer said:
"Keira represents the essence of youth, intelligence and beauty. She is a young woman with a conscience. I am thrilled this gown can support such an important cause."

Bidding will begin Today at 5pm BST. The auction ends on April 30th. To bid for a piece of Oscar fashion history go to www.oscardress4oxfam.org

To donate directly to Oxfam Ireland's appeal go to www.oxfamireland.org or call 1890 60 60 65 (ROI) 0845 303 0337 (NI)

Currency:

· €3/£2 will buy chlorine tablets to provide a family with clean and safe drinking water in Kenya.
· €52/£35 will provide 20 families with millet seeds to grow crops and rebuild their lives.
· €60/£40 will feed 50 children for a month in Tanzania.

Notes to editors:

Keira Knightley is not currently available for interviews.
Pictures and footage of the dress are available on the wires.

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