Keira Knightley
Born: 1985-03-26 in Teddington, London, England, UK
Known For: Acting
Biography
Keira Christina Knightley (born 26 March 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 the 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 the 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.
Filmography
2025
- The Woman in Cabin 10 as Laura 'Lo' Blacklock
- The Perfect Gift as Herself
2024
- Black Doves as Helen Webb
- The Sound Collector as Self - Narrator (voice)
2023
- Boston Strangler as Loretta McLaughlin
- The Sound Collector as Narrator
2022
- Charlotte as Charlotte Salomon (voice)
2021
- Silent Night as Nell
2020
- Misbehaviour as Sally Alexander
2019
- Official Secrets as Katharine Gun
- The Aftermath as Rachael Morgan
- Greed as Self
- My Grandparents' War as Self
- Berlin, I Love You as Jane
2018
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms as Sugar Plum Fairy
- Colette as Colette
2017
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales as Elizabeth Swann
- Red Nose Day Actually as Juliet
2016
- Collateral Beauty as Amy Moore
- Discovering Fashion as Self (archive footage)
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self - Guest
- Everest as Jan Arnold
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self - Guest
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- The Imitation Game as Joan Clarke
- Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit as Cathy Muller
- Begin Again as Gretta James
- Laggies as Megan Burch
2013
- Once Upon a Time... as Gabrielle Chanel
2012
- Anna Karenina as Anna Karenina
- Seeking a Friend for the End of the World as Penelope "Penny" Lockhart
- Stars in Shorts as Woman
- Wide-Awake as The Witch
2011
- A Dangerous Method as Sabina Spielrein
- Neverland as Tinker Bell (voice)
2010
- Never Let Me Go as Ruth C.
- Last Night as Joanna Reed
- London Boulevard as Charlotte
- Steve as Woman
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers as The Fairy
2008
- The Duchess as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
- The Edge of Love as Vera Phillips
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End as Elizabeth Swann
- Atonement as Cecilia Tallis
- Silk as Hélène Joncour
- Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens as Self
- Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind as Em (voice)
- O2 Wireless Festival Presents: Daft Punk Live as Self (Patron)
2006
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest as Elizabeth Swann
- According to Plan: The Harrowing and True Story of Dead Man's Chest as Self
2005
- Pride & Prejudice as Elizabeth Bennet
- The Reichen Show as Self
- The Jacket as Jackie Price
- Domino as Domino Harvey
- My Shot With
2004
- King Arthur as Guinevere
- Stories of Lost Souls as Leah
- The Making of King Arthur
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Guest
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl as Elizabeth Swann
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Love Actually as Juliet
- Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates
2002
- American Idol as Self
- Bend It Like Beckham as Juliette 'Jules' Paxton
- Doctor Zhivago as Larissa Ameliava 'Lara' Antipova
- Pure as Louise
- Thunderpants as Music School Student
- The Seasons Alter as Helena
- New Year's Eve as Leah
2001
- Richard & Judy as Self
- Friday Night with Jonathan Ross as Self - Guest
- The Hole as Frances 'Frankie' Almond Smith
- Princess of Thieves as Gwyn
- Deflation as Jogger
1999
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace as Sabé
- Oliver Twist as Rose Fleming
1998
- Coming Home as Young Judith
- Coming Home as Young Judith
1997
- The View as Self
- The Wonderful World of Disney as Gwyn
1996
- The Daily Show as Self - Guest
- The Treasure Seekers as The Princess
1995
- Innocent Lies as Young Celia
- A Village Affair as Natasha Jordan
1993
- Late Show with David Letterman as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- Royal Celebration as Angela
1992
1989
- Screen One as Angela
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
1984
- The Bill as Sheena Rose
1981
- Entertainment Tonight as Self
1953
- The Oscars as Self
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee