1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the World Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" on June 28, 2003, at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Amanda Edward)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2004
1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, United States
Actress Keira Knightley and boyfriend Jamie Dornan attend the "King Arthur" world premiere after-party at The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine, June 28, 2004, in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2005
Somerset, England, United Kingdom
Actress Keira Knightley is seen on the third day of the Glastonbury Music Festival 2005 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2005, in Somerset, England. The festival runs until June 26. (Photo by MJ Kim)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2005
Yoga Studio, Park City, Utah, United States
Keira Knightley during 2005 Sundance Film Festival - "The Jacket" Premiere After Party at Yoga Studio in Park City, Utah, United States. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2006
1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Actress Keira Knightley poses with Mickey Mouse at the world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest" held at Disneyland on June 24, 2006, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2006
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Keira Knightley at the 78th Annual Academy Awards.
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2008
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Actress Keira Knightley poses for a portrait session at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2008. (Photo by Jeff Vespa)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2012
Stratton St, Mayfair, London W1J 8LT, United Kingdom
Actress Keira Knightley attends the UK Gala Premiere of 'A Dangerous Method' at The Mayfair Hotel on January 31, 2012, in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2014
London, England, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the ladies singles final between Eugenie Bouchard and Petra Kvitova on center court during day twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at Wimbledon on July 5, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2014
Paris, France
Keira Knightley attends the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2014-2015 on March 4, 2014, in Paris, France. (Photo by Dominique Charriau)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2015
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Actress Keira Knightley attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2015
Tribeca, New York, United States
Keira Knightley and James Righton with daughter Edie Righton are seen in Tribeca on December 14, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Alo Ceballos)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2015
Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the EE British Academy Awards nominees party at Kensington Palace on February 7, 2015, in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2015
New York City, New York, United States
Actress Keira Knightley attends the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway opening night of Therese Raquin Co-Sponsored by FIJI Water on October 29, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2015
New York City, New York, United States
Kiera Knightley is seen on October 31, 2015, in New York City.
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2018
London, England, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the UK Premiere of "Colette" and BFI Patrons gala during the 62nd BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2018
London, England, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards at The Ballroom of Claridges on October 30, 2018, in London, England (Photo by Jeff Spicer)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2018
Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley with her OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace on December 13, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Julian Simmonds)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2018
London, England, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends her 'A Life In Pictures' photocall at BAFTA on December 17, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2019
18 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Keira Knightley attends a screening for "The Aftermath" in New York City at the Whitby Hotel on March 13, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2019
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris, France
Keira Knightley and James Righton attend the Chanel Cruise Collection 2020 : Front Row at Le Grand Palais on May 03, 2019, in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff)
Gallery of Keira Knightley
2020
1 Ham Yard, Soho, London W1D 7DT, United Kingdom
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keeley Hawes, Keira Knightley, and Suki Waterhouse attend the "Misbehaviour" World Premiere at The Ham Yard Hotel on March 09, 2020, in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole)
Achievements
Membership
Awards
Empire Awards
2011
86-90 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 7TN, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley poses with her Empire Hero Award in the press room at the Jameson Empire Awards 2011 held at Grosvenor House on March 27, 2011, in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan)
Hollywood Film Awards
2014
6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Keira Knightley accepts the Hollywood Supporting Actress Award for 'The Imitation Game' onstage during the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Palladium on November 14, 2014, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter
Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year
2018
Claridge's, Brook St, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the Harper's Bazaar Women Of The Year Awards 2018, in partnership with Michael Kors and Mercedes-Benz, at Claridge's Hotel on October 30, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett)
1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the World Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" on June 28, 2003, at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Amanda Edward)
1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, United States
Actress Keira Knightley and boyfriend Jamie Dornan attend the "King Arthur" world premiere after-party at The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine, June 28, 2004, in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini)
Actress Keira Knightley is seen on the third day of the Glastonbury Music Festival 2005 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2005, in Somerset, England. The festival runs until June 26. (Photo by MJ Kim)
Keira Knightley during 2005 Sundance Film Festival - "The Jacket" Premiere After Party at Yoga Studio in Park City, Utah, United States. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy)
1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Actress Keira Knightley poses with Mickey Mouse at the world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest" held at Disneyland on June 24, 2006, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
86-90 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 7TN, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley poses with her Empire Hero Award in the press room at the Jameson Empire Awards 2011 held at Grosvenor House on March 27, 2011, in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan)
Stratton St, Mayfair, London W1J 8LT, United Kingdom
Actress Keira Knightley attends the UK Gala Premiere of 'A Dangerous Method' at The Mayfair Hotel on January 31, 2012, in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett)
Keira Knightley attends the ladies singles final between Eugenie Bouchard and Petra Kvitova on center court during day twelve of the Wimbledon Championships at Wimbledon on July 5, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang)
Keira Knightley attends the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2014-2015 on March 4, 2014, in Paris, France. (Photo by Dominique Charriau)
6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Keira Knightley accepts the Hollywood Supporting Actress Award for 'The Imitation Game' onstage during the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Palladium on November 14, 2014, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States
Actress Keira Knightley attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa)
Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the EE British Academy Awards nominees party at Kensington Palace on February 7, 2015, in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland)
Actress Keira Knightley attends the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway opening night of Therese Raquin Co-Sponsored by FIJI Water on October 29, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder)
Keira Knightley attends the UK Premiere of "Colette" and BFI Patrons gala during the 62nd BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang)
Keira Knightley attends the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards at The Ballroom of Claridges on October 30, 2018, in London, England (Photo by Jeff Spicer)
Keira Knightley with her OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace on December 13, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Julian Simmonds)
Claridge's, Brook St, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom
Keira Knightley attends the Harper's Bazaar Women Of The Year Awards 2018, in partnership with Michael Kors and Mercedes-Benz, at Claridge's Hotel on October 30, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett)
Keira Knightley attends a screening for "The Aftermath" in New York City at the Whitby Hotel on March 13, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt)
3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris, France
Keira Knightley and James Righton attend the Chanel Cruise Collection 2020 : Front Row at Le Grand Palais on May 03, 2019, in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keeley Hawes, Keira Knightley, and Suki Waterhouse attend the "Misbehaviour" World Premiere at The Ham Yard Hotel on March 09, 2020, in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole)
(Determined to get to the bottom of his best friend's deat...)
Determined to get to the bottom of his best friend's death, detective Alan Cross (Adrian Dunbar) travels to the cozy French hamlet where the tragedy took place.
(Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn rescue Queen...)
Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn rescue Queen Amidala, ruler of a peaceful planet invaded by dark forces. On their escape, they discover nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker, a child prodigy who is unusually strong in the Force.
(Four British teens ditch their school's geography field t...)
Four British teens ditch their school's geography field trip to party in an abandoned underground bunker, but they get trapped. Days later, only one girl emerges - what happened to the others? A tense thriller.
(From the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill...)
From the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill comes the ultimate romantic comedy about love's delightful twists and turns, starring some of Hollywood's brightest stars.
(Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody, a veteran of the first...)
Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody, a veteran of the first Gulf War who, once home, finds himself in an asylum with no memory of the crime he allegedly committed that put him there.
(Pirate Jack Sparrow must seize the fabled "Dead Man's Che...)
Pirate Jack Sparrow must seize the fabled "Dead Man's Chest" in order to cheat death and eternal damnation. But the high seas present many obstacles - including the mighty Kraken!
(Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, t...)
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this stunning epic love story stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy and is hailed by critics as "a ravishing romance."
(An upscale Manhattan couple comes to a crossroads in thei...)
An upscale Manhattan couple comes to a crossroads in their marriage when each is tempted by the charms of another lover in this romantic drama starring Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, and Eva Mendes.
(Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the drive...)
Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly) as his patient. Jung's weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Both men fall under Sabina's spell. Based on a true story.
(Steve Carell and Keira Knightley lead an all-star cast in...)
Steve Carell and Keira Knightley lead an all-star cast in this clever and heartwarming comedy that explores the crazy things people do when humanity's last days are at hand.
(A woman (Keira Knightley) stuck in permanent adolescence ...)
A woman (Keira Knightley) stuck in permanent adolescence lies to her fiancé about going on a retreat and spends the time hanging out with teenagers (Chloe Grace Moretz) instead. A comedy about acting your age and other adult decisions.
(Benedict Cumberbatch shines as a real-life war hero and p...)
Benedict Cumberbatch shines as a real-life war hero and pioneer of modern-day computing, Alan Turing, who saved millions of lives by cracking Germany's so-called unbreakable code during WWII.
(Everest documents the deadly journey of two mountain clim...)
Everest documents the deadly journey of two mountain climbing expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind.
(A man reaches out to the universe after a tragedy. Receiv...)
A man reaches out to the universe after a tragedy. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.
(Captain Jack Sparrow is pursued by old rival Captain Sala...)
Captain Jack Sparrow is pursued by old rival Captain Salazar and a crew of deadly ghosts who escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea... notably him.
(Colette (Keira Knightley) is pushed by her husband to wri...)
Colette (Keira Knightley) is pushed by her husband to write novels under his name. Upon their success, she fights to make her talents known, challenging gender norms.
(In Disney's reimagining of The Nutcracker, a mysterious g...)
In Disney's reimagining of The Nutcracker, a mysterious gift from her mother launches Clara on a journey to four secret realms - where she discovers her greatest strength could change the world.
(Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes lead a world-class ense...)
Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes lead a world-class ensemble in this gripping true-life political thriller of a spy gone rogue who risked everything to stop an unjust war.
(Misbehaviour tells the sensational true story of the Wome...)
Misbehaviour tells the sensational true story of the Women’s Liberation Movement’s disruption of the 1970 Miss World pageant and the crowning of the pageant’s first woman of color; making headlines around the world.
Keira Knightley is a British actress known for films like Bend It Like Beckham, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Atonement. She has also earned Oscar nominations for her roles in Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game.
Background
Ethnicity:
Keira is of English descent on her father’s side and has Welsh and Scottish ancestry on her mother’s side.
Born in London, England, on March 26, 1985, Keira Christina Knightley grew up in a show-business family. Her father is actor Will Knightley and her mother is playwright Sharman Macdonald. Knightley was supposed to be named "Kira" (without the "e"), after Russian figure skater Kira Ivanova. However, when Knightley’s mother, Sharman Macdonald, went to register her new child, she misspelled the name and it ended up as "Keira."
Keira Knightley grew up in a London suburb with her older brother Caleb. Knightley later told Marie Claire that playing with dollhouses may have influenced her career choice: "Dollhouses were a big thing in my childhood," she said. "I was always making up stories, playing with them for hours. I guess that's why I'm an actress: I never stopped wanting to play."
Education
Schooling was not easy for Knightley as she struggled with dyslexia. She attended Stanley Junior School and Teddington School.
She went on to study at Esher College but left after one year to pursue acting full-time.
Knightley had her first professional acting job at the age of seven and went on to make a string of appearances on British television. In her mid-teens, she landed her first major role in the film Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (1999). That same year, Knightley had a supporting role in the television miniseries Oliver Twist with Sam Smith, Julie Walters, and Robert Lindsay.
In 2002, Knightley had a career breakthrough with Bend It Like Beckham. She played tomboy soccer player Juliette "Jules" Paxton in this surprise hit. She also showed herself to be a risk-taker that same year, playing the female lead in the TV film Doctor Zhivago. Knightley tackled a role that Julie Christie made famous in the 1962 feature film.
Knightley landed her first blockbuster hit in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Based on a ride at Disneyland, this adventure tale starred Johnny Depp as the notorious pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. Knightley's character, Elizabeth Swann, got caught up in the action along with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and she reprised her role in the film's 2006 and 2007 sequels. Knightley couldn’t believe it when she was cast in Pirates of the Caribbean. In fact, according to the actress, she only packed a few things with her at the start of filming because she was sure she would be fired after only a few days.
Knightley played Guinevere in 2004's King Arthur with Clive Owen and Ioan Gruffudd. In preparation for her role in the King Arthur, Knightley trained four days a week for three months. Training included weightlifting, boxing, fighting, and horseback riding. The following year, Knightley starred in a screen adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her work in the film. Then in 2008, Knightley played the title character in The Duchess, a biopic of an 18th-century royal.
"I do a lot of period pieces because that’s my taste, because I want to work in Europe because that’s my home and generally speaking that’s what’s made in England," Knightley later said in a 2015 New York Times interview. "I love history, you know, but actually because they’ve been the most interesting characters for me that I’ve been offered."
Knightley has nonetheless handled historical, contemporary and futuristic roles with equal ease. She appeared in the popular ensemble dramatic comedy Love Actually (2003). Knight later co-starred in the quiet science-fiction tale Never Let Me Go (2010) with Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan, and then portrayed real-world pioneering psychoanalyst Sabina Spielren in A Dangerous Method (2011).
Knightley continued to tackle a variety of roles. In 2012 she appeared opposite Steve Carell in the apocalyptic tale Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and also returned to sumptuous period garb to star in Anna Karenina. Jude Law plays Anna's repressed husband in the film, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson co-stars as Anna's lover. The actress went on to work in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), a spy thriller following the life of the popular CIA analyst character of the same name. Chris Pine was cast as Ryan while Knightley portrayed fiancée Cathy.
In 2014 Knightley also co-starred in the music comedy/drama Begin Again with Mark Ruffalo and the romantic comedy Laggies. During the fall, she was featured as a code-breaking whiz in the WWII drama The Imitation Game, earning both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Supporting Actress. The following year, Knightley made her Broadway debut in the play Thérèse Raquin, based on the 1867 Émile Zola novel about a beleaguered married woman who goes down an illicit path.
Knightley is an atheist. Her atheism isn’t, however, something that she’s always happy about. Instead, she thinks it limits her fun, and the actress has joked that she’d prefer to be a Catholic.
"If only I wasn't an atheist, I could get away with anything," she said. "You'd just ask for forgiveness and then you'd be forgiven. It sounds much better than having to live with guilt."
Politics
Knightley urged the public to vote "Remain" in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union Referendum (the result of which became known as "Brexit"). In May of that year, she co-signed a letter pleading with Britain to vote remain. She also appeared in a video that encouraged young people to vote in the referendum.
Views
Knightley’s philanthropic work has included donating funds to international relief funds and supporting medical research for sick children.
In 2009, Knightley starred in a video that was made to create awareness about domestic abuse.
Quotations:
"A lot of times in cinema today the women are overly sentimental, so I constantly try to do the opposite. I like strident women."
"I haven't got a clue about how much I weigh. I do not own any scales. And I have noticed it creates an anger in people who are not skinny. People like to blame their insecurities on other people."
Personality
Knightley is a soccer fan. More specifically, she is a supporter of the West Ham United Football Club based in London.
Knightley's personal style is effortlessly chic. In the past she has confessed to preferring a casual approach to red-carpet glamour: "As long as I do it rarely, then I enjoy it," she told Stylist magazine. "It's nice to have an occasion to wear a silly frock and get dolled up but I'm not really that sort of person."
Though Knightley has had a hugely successful acting career, she can’t sing at all. She previously auditioned for 2004’s The Phantom of the Opera, and the experience was one of the most embarrassing of her life owing to her inability to carry a tune.
She suffers from "Dentophobia" (a fear of dentists).
Physical Characteristics:
Height: 5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
Weight: 54 kg or 119 pounds
Interests
playing the piano and the flute
Writers
Somerset Maugham, Jeanette Winterson
Sport & Clubs
soccer, West Ham United Football Club
Music & Bands
Neil Young, Tom Tom Club, Nick Cave
Connections
In May 2012, Knightley announced her engagement to British musician James Righton of the Klaxons. She and Righton wed in early May 2013, and Knightley gave birth to their first child in May 2015, a daughter named Edie. Delilah, the second daughter, was born in September 2019.
She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama and charity in London.
She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama and charity in London.
Teen Choice Awards
2004 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Choice Movie: Chemistry (shared with Orlando Bloom);
2004 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Choice Movie: Liplock (shared with Orlando Bloom);
2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Choice Movie: Hissy Fit;
2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Choice Movie: Liplock (shared with Orlando Bloom);
2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Choice Movie: Scream;
2008 - Atonement - Choice Movie Actress: Drama.
2004 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Choice Movie: Chemistry (shared with Orlando Bloom);
2004 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Choice Movie: Liplock (shared with Orlando Bloom);
2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Choice Movie: Hissy Fit;
2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Choice Movie: Liplock (shared with Orlando Bloom);
2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Choice Movie: Scream;