Keira Knightley
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting103
movieThe Perfect Gift
2025
Herself
movieThe Woman in Cabin 10
2025
Laura 'Lo' Blacklock
tvBlack Doves
2024
Helen Webb
movieThe Sound Collector
2024
Self - Narrator (voice)
movieBoston Strangler
2023
Loretta McLaughlin
tvThe Sound Collector
2023
Narrator
movieCharlotte
2022
Charlotte Salomon (voice)
movieMisbehaviour
2020
Sally Alexander
movieGreed
2019
Self
movieOfficial Secrets
2019
Katharine Gun
movieThe Aftermath
2019
Rachael Morgan
movieThe Nutcracker and the Four Realms
2018
Sugar Plum Fairy
movieColette
2018
Colette
moviePirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
2017
Elizabeth Swann
movieCollateral Beauty
2016
Amy Moore
tvDiscovering Fashion
2016
Self (archive footage)
movieEverest
2015
Jan Arnold
tvThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
Self - Guest
movieThe Imitation Game
2014
Joan Clarke
movieLaggies
2014
Megan Burch
movieBegin Again
2014
Gretta James
tvLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
Self - Guest
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
Self - Guest / Self
movieJack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
2014
Cathy Muller
movieOnce Upon a Time...
2013
Gabrielle Chanel
movieWide-Awake
2012
The Witch
movieAnna Karenina
2012
Anna Karenina
movieSeeking a Friend for the End of the World
2012
Penelope "Penny" Lockhart
tvNeverland
2011
Tinker Bell (voice)
movieA Dangerous Method
2011
Sabina Spielrein
movieLondon Boulevard
2010
Charlotte
movieLast Night
2010
Joanna Reed
movieNever Let Me Go
2010
Ruth C.
movieSteve
2010
Woman
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
Self - Guest
movieThe Duchess
2008
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
movieThe Edge of Love
2008
Vera Phillips
movieSilk
2007
Hélène Joncour
moviePirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
2007
Elizabeth Swann
movieAtonement
2007
Cecilia Tallis
moviePirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2006
Elizabeth Swann
movieDomino
2005
Domino Harvey
moviePride & Prejudice
2005
Elizabeth Bennet
movieThe Jacket
2005
Jackie Price
movieKing Arthur
2004
Guinevere
movieLove Actually
2003
Juliet
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Self - Guest
tvDoctor Zhivago
2002
Larissa Ameliava 'Lara' Antipova
moviePure
2002
Louise
movieThunderpants
2002
Music School Student
movieBend It Like Beckham
2002
Juliette 'Jules' Paxton
tvFriday Night with Jonathan Ross
2001
Self - Guest
movieThe Hole
2001
Frances 'Frankie' Almond Smith
movieDeflation
2001
Jogger
tvOliver Twist
1999
Rose Fleming
tvComing Home
1998
Young Judith
movieComing Home
1998
Young Judith
tvThe View
1997
Self
movieThe Treasure Seekers
1996
The Princess
tvThe Daily Show
1996
Self - Guest
movieInnocent Lies
1995
Young Celia
movieA Village Affair
1995
Natasha Jordan
tvLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Self - Guest
tvLate Show with David Letterman
1993
Self - Guest
tvScreen One
1989
Angela
tvLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
Self - Guest
tvThe Bill
1984
Sheena Rose
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Nominee
Production2
tvBlack Doves
2024
Executive Producer
movieCharlotte
2022
Executive Producer