Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley

Keira Christina Knightley (born March 26, 1985) is an English actress. She has starred in both independent films and big-budget blockbusters, and is particularly noted for her roles in period dramas. Her accolades include two Empire Awards and nominations for two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award and one Laurence Olivier Award. Knightley was appointed an OBE in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity. Born in London to actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald, Knightley obtained an agent at age six, and initially worked commercials and television films. She appeared as Sabé, Padmé Amidala's handmaiden, in science fiction blockbuster Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Knightley had a break-through role portraying a tomboy footballer in the sports film Bend It Like Beckham (2002). She achieved global stardom with her portrayal of Elizabeth Swann in fantasy swashbuckler series Pirates of the Caribbean. In the same year, she appeared in the Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually (2003) and was labelled a promising teen star. For her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the period romance Pride & Prejudice (2005), Knightley was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. At age 20, she became the third-youngest Best Actress nominee at the time. Knightley starred in a series of further period pieces, portraying a complex love interest in Atonement (2007), tastemaker Georgiana Cavendish in The Duchess (2008), and the titular socialite in Anna Karenina (2012). She then forayed into contemporary dramas, appearing as an aspiring musician in Begin Again (2013) and a medical student in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). Knightley returned to historical films by playing cryptoanalyst Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game (2014), earning her a second round of Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, and starred as the eponymous belle époque writer in Colette (2018) to critical acclaim. On stage, Knightley has appeared in two West End productions: The Misanthrope in 2009, which earned her an Olivier Award nomination, and The Children's Hour in 2011. She also starred as the eponymous heroine in the 2015 Broadway production of Thérèse Raquin. Knightley is known for her outspoken stance on social issues, and has worked extensively with Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Comic Relief. She is married to musician James Righton, with whom she has two daughters.

The Sound Collector
2024
Narrator
Boston Strangler
2023
Loretta McLaughlin
Charlotte
2022
Executive Producer
Silent Night
2021
Nell
Misbehaviour
2020
Sally Alexander
Berlin, I Love You
2019
Jane
Greed
2019
Self
The Aftermath
2019
Rachael Morgan
Official Secrets
2019
Katharine Gun
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
2018
Sugar Plum Fairy
Colette
2018
Colette
Red Nose Day Actually
2017
Juliet
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
2017
Elizabeth Swann
Collateral Beauty
2016
Amy Moore
Everest
2015
Jan Arnold
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
2014
Cathy Muller
The Imitation Game
2014
Joan Clarke
Begin Again
2014
Gretta James
Laggies
2014
Megan Burch
Once Upon a Time...
2013
Gabrielle Chanel
Anna Karenina
2012
Anna Karenina
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
2012
Penelope "Penny" Lockhart
Stars In Shorts
2012
Woman
Steve
2010
Woman
The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers
2009
The Fairy
O2 Wireless Festival Presents: Daft Punk Live
2007
Self (Patron)
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
2007
Self
The Woman in Cabin 10

Wide-Awake
2012
The Witch
A Dangerous Method
2011
Sabina Spielrein
Last Night
2010
Joanna Reed
Never Let Me Go
2010
Ruth C.
London Boulevard
2010
Charlotte
The Duchess
2008
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
The Edge of Love
2008
Vera Phillips
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2007
Elizabeth Swann
Atonement
2007
Cecilia Tallis
Silk
2007
Hélène Joncour
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
2007
Em (voice)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2006
Elizabeth Swann
According to Plan: The Making of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
2006
Self
Pride & Prejudice
2005
Elizabeth Bennet
The Jacket
2005
Jackie Price
Domino
2005
Domino Harvey
King Arthur
2004
Guinevere
Stories of Lost Souls
2004
Leah
The Making of King Arthur
2004
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2003
Elizabeth Swann
Love Actually
2003
Juliet
Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates
2003
An Epic At Sea: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2003
Self
Bend It Like Beckham
2002
Juliette 'Jules' Paxton
Thunderpants
2002
Music School Student
Pure
2002
Louise
The Seasons Alter
2002
Helena
New Year's Eve
2002
Leah
The Hole
2001
Frances 'Frankie' Almond Smith
Princess of Thieves
2001
Gwyn
Deflation
2001
Jogger
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999
Sabé
Coming Home
1998
Young Judith
The Treasure Seekers
1996
The Princess
Innocent Lies
1995
Young Celia
A Village Affair
1995
Natasha Jordan
Royal Celebration
1993
Angela