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Photo of Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley

Actor, ProducerBorn March 26, 1985 (39 years)
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.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Laggies
  • The Edge of Love
  • Misbehaviour
  • Berlin, I Love You

Known For

  • The Imitation Game
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Pride & Prejudice
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
  • Atonement
  • A Dangerous Method
  • Anna Karenina
  • Never Let Me Go
  • The Duchess
  • Begin Again
  • Domino
  • Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
  • Black Doves
  • The Jacket
  • Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
  • King Arthur
  • Bend It Like Beckham
  • Official Secrets
  • Last Night
  • Everest
  • Laggies
  • Boston Strangler
  • Colette

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2024
    Black Doves (TV Series) · as Helen Webb
    2023
    Boston Strangler · as Loretta Mclaughlin
    2023
    The Sound Collector (TV Series) · as Narratrice (en)
    2021
    Silent Night · as Nell
    2021
    Charlotte · as Charlotte Salomon (voice)
    2020
    Misbehaviour · as Sally Alexander
    2019
    2019
    Official Secrets · as Katharine Gun
    2019
    The Aftermath · as Rachael Morgan
    2019
    2018
    The Nutcracker and the Four Realms · as Sugar Plum Fairy
    2018
    Colette · as Colette
    2017
    2017
    2016
    Collateral Beauty · as Amy Moore
    2015
    Everest · as Jan Arnold
    2014
    The Imitation Game · as Joan Clarke
    2014
    Laggies · as Megan Burch
    2014
    Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit · as Cathy Muller
    2013
    Begin Again · as Gretta James
    2012
    Wide-Awake · as The Witch
    2012
    Stars in Shorts · as Woman
    2012
    Anna Karenina · as Anna Karenina
    2012
    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World · as Penelope "penny" Lockhart
    2011
    Neverland (TV Series) · as Tinker Bell (voice)
    2011
    A Dangerous Method · as Sabina Spielrein
    2010
    London Boulevard · as Charlotte
    2010
    Last Night · as Joanna Reed
    2010
    Never Let Me Go · as Ruth C.
    2010
    Farewell 'The Bill' · as Sheena Rose
    2010
    Steve · as Woman
    2009
    2008
    The Duchess · as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess Of Devonshire
    2008
    The Edge of Love · as Vera Phillips
    2008
    The 80th Annual Academy Awards · as Cecilia Tallis
    2008
    2007
    2007
    Silk · as Hélène Joncour
    2007
    Atonement · as Cecilia Tallis
    2007
    2006
    2006
    2005
    Domino · as Domino Harvey
    2005
    Pride & Prejudice · as Elizabeth Bennet
    2005
    The Jacket · as Jackie Price
    2005
    2004
    2004
    King Arthur · as Guinevere
    2003
    2003
    Love Actually · as Juliet
    2003
    2002
    Doctor Zhivago (TV Series) · as Lara Antipova
    2002
    New Year's Eve · as Leah
    2002
    Pure · as Louise
    2002
    Thunderpants · as Music School Student
    2002
    Bend It Like Beckham · as Juliette 'jules' Paxton
    2001
    The Hole · as Frances 'frankie' Almond Smith
    2001
    1999
    Oliver Twist (1999) (TV Series) · as Rose Fleming
    1999
    1998
    Coming Home (1998) (TV Series) · as Young Judith
    1998
    Coming Home · as Young Judith
    1997
    The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series) · as Gwyn
    1996
    The Treasure Seekers · as The Princess
    1995
    Innocent Lies · as Young Celia
    1995
    A Village Affair · as Natasha Jordan
    1993
    Royal Celebration · as Angela
    1992
    1985
    Screen One (TV Series) · as Angela
    1984
    The Bill (TV Series) · as Sheena Rose

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