Keira Knightley
Born
March 26, 1985 (40 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Teddington, London, England, UK
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.
Known For
Boston Strangler
Loretta McLaughlin
2023
Berlin, I Love You
Jane
2019
Greed
Self
2019
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Sugar Plum Fairy
2018
Collateral Beauty
Amy Moore
2016
Everest
Jan Arnold
2015
The Imitation Game
Joan Clarke
2014
Laggies
Megan Burch
2014
Begin Again
Gretta James
2014
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Cathy Muller
2014
Once Upon a Time...
Gabrielle Chanel
2013
Stars In Shorts
Woman
2012
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
2012
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Penelope "Penny" Lockhart
2012
A Dangerous Method
Sabina Spielrein
2011
London Boulevard
Charlotte
2010
Last Night
Joanna Reed
2010
Never Let Me Go
Ruth C.
2010
Steve
Woman
2010
The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers
The Fairy
2009
The Duchess
Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
2008
The Edge of Love
Vera Phillips
2008
Silk
Hélène Joncour
2007
O2 Wireless Festival Presents: Daft Punk Live
Self (Patron)
2007
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Elizabeth Swann
2007
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
Self
2007
Atonement
Cecilia Tallis
2007
According to Plan: The Making of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
Self
2006
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Elizabeth Swann
2006
Domino
Domino Harvey
2005
Pride & Prejudice
Elizabeth Bennet
2005
The Jacket
Jackie Price
2005
Stories of Lost Souls
Leah
2004
King Arthur
Guinevere
2004
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
Self
2003
Love Actually
Juliet
2003
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Elizabeth Swann
2003
The Seasons Alter
Helena
2002
Pure
Louise
2002
Thunderpants
Music School Student
2002
Bend It Like Beckham
Juliette 'Jules' Paxton
2002
The Hole
Frances 'Frankie' Almond Smith
2001
Princess of Thieves
Gwyn
2001
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Sabé
1999
The Treasure Seekers
The Princess
1996
Innocent Lies
Young Celia
1995
Royal Celebration
Angela
1993
The Woman in Cabin 10
Black Doves
Helen Webb · (6 episodes)
2024
The Sound Collector
Narrator
2024
The Sound Collector
Narratrice (EN) · (60 episodes)
2023
Charlotte
Charlotte Salomon (voice)
2022
Silent Night
Nell
2021
Misbehaviour
Sally Alexander
2020
My Grandparents' War
Self · (1 episode)
2019
Official Secrets
Katharine Gun
2019
The Aftermath
Rachael Morgan
2019
Colette
Colette
2018
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Elizabeth Swann
2017
Red Nose Day Actually
Juliet
2017
Discovering Fashion
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Wide-Awake
The Witch
2012
Neverland
Tinker Bell (voice) · (2 episodes)
2011
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
Em (voice)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (4 episodes)
2007
The Reichen Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
My Shot With
(1 episode)
2005
The Making of King Arthur
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Doctor Zhivago
Lara Antipova · (3 episodes)
2002
New Year's Eve
Leah
2002
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2001
Deflation
Jogger
2001
Coming Home
Young Judith
1998
A Village Affair
Natasha Jordan
1995
Conception
American Idol
Self · (1 episode)
2002
Richard & Judy
Self · (1 episode)
2001
Oliver Twist
Rose Fleming · (4 episodes)
1999
Coming Home
Young Judith · (2 episodes)
1998
The Wonderful World of Disney
Gwyn · (1 episode)
1997
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
1992
Screen One
Angela · (1 episode)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (5 episodes)
1988
The Bill
Sheena Rose · (1 episode)
1984
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (1 episode)
1981
The Oscars
Self · (1 episode)
1953
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1944