Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley

Mar 26, 1985 (40 years old)

Overview

Gender
Female
Birthday
Mar 26, 1985

Biography

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

The Woman in Cabin 10
DOLBY
Movie 2025

The Woman in Cabin 10

A journalist witnesses a passenger being thrown overboard a luxury...

The Sound Collector
60 Episodes
DOLBY
TV Show 2023

The Sound Collector

As the Sound Collector records the sound of the seashore,...

Boston Strangler
1h 53m
DOLBY
Movie 2023

Boston Strangler

Reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole bravely pursue the story...

Charlotte
1h 32m
DOLBY
Movie 2022

Charlotte

The true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish painter...

Silent Night
1h 32m
DOLBY
Movie 2021

Silent Night

Nell, Simon, and their boy Art are ready to welcome...

Misbehaviour
1h 47m
DOLBY
Movie 2020

Misbehaviour

A group of women involved in the Women's Liberation Movement...

Berlin, I Love You
2h
DOLBY
Movie 2019

Berlin, I Love You

An anthology feature of 10 stories of romance set in...

Greed
1h 40m
DOLBY
Movie 2019

Greed

A retail billionaire's 60th birthday party is celebrated in an...

Official Secrets
1h 52m
DOLBY
Movie 2019

Official Secrets

The true story of British intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun who—prior...

The Aftermath
1h 48m
DOLBY
Movie 2019

The Aftermath

In the aftermath of World War II, a British colonel...

Acting

2025
The Woman in Cabin 10
Movie
2023
The Sound Collector
Tv
2023
Boston Strangler
Movie
2022
Charlotte
Movie
2021
Silent Night
Movie
2020
Misbehaviour
Movie
2019
Berlin, I Love You
Movie
2019
Greed
Movie
2019
Official Secrets
Movie
2019
The Aftermath
Movie
2018
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Movie
2018
Colette
Movie
2017
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Movie
2017
Red Nose Day Actually
Movie
2016
Collateral Beauty
Movie
2014
Laggies
Movie
2014
Begin Again
Movie
2013
Once Upon a Time...
Movie
2012
Wide-Awake
Movie
2011
Neverland
Tv
2011
A Dangerous Method
Movie
2010
London Boulevard
Movie
2010
Steve
Movie
2009
The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers
Movie
2008
The Edge of Love
Movie
2007
Silk
Movie
2007
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
Movie
2006
According to Plan: The Making of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
Movie
2006
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Movie
2005
The Jacket
Movie
2004
King Arthur
Movie
2003
An Epic At Sea: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Movie
2003
Love Actually
Movie
2003
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Movie
2002
The Seasons Alter
Movie
2002
Doctor Zhivago
Tv
2002
New Year's Eve
Movie
2002
Pure
Movie
2002
Thunderpants
Movie
2001
Princess of Thieves
Movie
2001
Deflation
Movie
1999
Oliver Twist
Tv
1999
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Movie
1998
Coming Home
Tv
1995
Innocent Lies
Movie
1995
A Village Affair
Movie
1993
Royal Celebration
Movie