Aaron driven by director's passion

Aaron Taylor Johnson has said Joe Wright's interesting take on Anna Karenina helped inspire him in his role.

The Kick-Ass star plays Anna Karenina's lover Count Vronsky in the new adaptation of the Tolstoy novel, with Keira Knightley in the lead role.

Pride And Prejudice director Joe has put a theatrical twist on the film, and Aaron told The Daily Mail he was relieved it wasn't a straight costume drama.

"That would be boring", he said. "I'm much happier working with a director who's passionate about something.

"Joe had my attention because of his passion. If a director has lost your attention, an actor will play it safe."

The 22-year-old actor - who married 45-year-old director Sam Taylor Johnson after they met on the set of her directorial debut Nowhere Boy - said he is intrigued by how his macho young character has no aspirations of marriage, until he meets Anna and is instantly captivated.