London, January 24 : Keira Knightley is enjoying a friendly relationship with her bodyguard, it has emerged.

The minder was spotted keeping journalists away from the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actress after the first night of a West End play starring her boyfriend, Rupert Friend.

"Keira says she needs him. They have become good friends," the Telegraph quoted pal as saying.

Knightley has become guarded since a man verbally abused her in 2008.

She said: “I got such a shock, I couldn''t say anything and this guy took incredible offence and started hurling the most amazing abuse.

"It''s a weird thing to have to deal with, not on a day-to-day basis, but it has happened enough to make me quite jumpy. I''ve never managed to get used to people recognising me." (ANI)