About Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley, born on March 26, 1985, is a renowned English actress whose career spans both independent films and major blockbusters, with a special acclaim for her roles in period dramas. She has received numerous accolades including two Empire Awards and multiple nominations for prestigious honors such as two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, and one Laurence Olivier Award. In recognition of her contributions to drama and charity work, Knightley was appointed an OBE in the 2018 Birthday Honours.
Growing up in London in a family of actors – her father Will Knightley and mother Sharman Macdonald – Knightley secured an agent by the age of six and started her career in commercials and television films. She made her big-screen debut in the science fiction hit Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) as Sabé, the handmaiden to Padmé Amidala. Her breakout role came in the film Bend It Like Beckham (2002), where she played a determined tomboy football player. However, it was her portrayal of Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy that catapulted her to international fame, along with her appearance in the holiday favorite Love Actually (2003), which solidified her status as a promising young star.
Knightley’s remarkable performance as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice (2005) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, making her the third-youngest nominee in that category at the time. She continued to shine in subsequent period pieces, portraying complex characters in films such as Atonement (2007), The Duchess (2008), and Anna Karenina (2012). Transitioning to contemporary roles, she starred as an aspiring musician in Begin Again (2013) and a medical student in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). Her return to historical narratives was marked by her role as cryptoanalyst Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game (2014), which garnered her second Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, and her acclaimed performance as the writer Colette in the 2018 film of the same name.
In addition to her film work, Knightley has made a mark on stage with performances in two notable West End productions: The Misanthrope in 2009, which led to an Olivier Award nomination, and The Children's Hour in 2011. She also portrayed the titular character in the 2015 Broadway adaptation of Thérèse Raquin. Knightley is not only recognized for her talent but also for her advocacy on social issues, actively supporting organizations like Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Comic Relief. She is married to musician James Righton, with whom she has two daughters.
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Movie Credits
Keira Knightley has appeared in 68 movies.
TV Credits
Keira Knightley has appeared in 33 shows.
