Keira Knightley

At 39 years old, Keira Knightley has this physical status:

Career

Knightley started working in commercials and small television shows after obtaining an agent at the age of six. "Royal Celebration" was her first onscreen appearance. In the romantic drama A Village Affair (1995), Natasha Jordan, a teenage girl whose mother is involved in an extramarital affair, appeared later. Knightley landed in the 1999 science fiction blockbuster The Phantom Menace (1995), Innocent Lies (1995), Coming Home (1998), and Oliver Twist (1999). Natalie Portman, who played Padmé, dubbed her over, and she was dubbed over in her discussion. Knightley was chosen because of her close resemblance to Portman; even the two actresses' parents had trouble telling their children apart when they were in full make-up.

Princess of Thieves, Terry Jones' first major role, played Robin Hood's daughter. She studied for several weeks in preparation for the role, including archery, fencing, and riding. She appeared in The Hole, a thriller that saw a direct-to-video release in the United States. "A young version of Julie Christie," film producer Nick Hamm referred to her as. To excellent reviews and high ratings, Knightley also took on the role of Lara Antipova in Doctor Zhivago's 2002 miniseries version. In Gillies MacKinnon's drama film Pure, Knightley starred as a pregnant heroin addict. The film, co-starring Molly Parker and Harry Eden, had its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival. Carlo Cavagna praised Knightley's screen presence, saying, "although Knightley [and] doesn't have half Parker's skills [...] she has spunk and grit [and] shines brilliantly in Pure."

When she appeared in Gurinder Chadha's sports comedy film Bend It Like Beckham, a box office hit in the United Kingdom and United States, Knightley played Jules, a tomboy football player wrestling against social norms who inspires her friend to pursue the sport. Critics were raving over the film's "charming" and "inspiring" qualities, cultural context, and the cast's performances. Knightley and her co-star Parminder Nagra attracted international notice for their performances; director James Berardinelli, who was largely applauded of the film and its "energetic and likable" cast, said Knightley and Nagra had "a lot of life to their instantly relatable characters." They underwent three months of intensive football preparation under English football coach Simon Clifford to prepare for their roles. Knightley was initially skeptical of the venture, but then she told friends, "I remember telling friends that I was doing this girls' soccer movie."

In the 2003 American fantasy swashbuckler film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Elizabeth Swann portrayed Elizabeth Swann. The film, which is based on the Disney theme park attraction, revolves around renowned buccaneer Jack Sparrow and blacksmith Will Turner rescuing Swann, who is in possession of a coveted golden medallion stolen from 18th-century pirates. Knightley was portrayed by Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski in "indescribable performance [...] reminiscent of motion picture actors from Hollywood's heyday." Knightley underestimated the stunting required and assumed she'd mainly be sitting in carriages; at one point during filming, she remained on a plank and turned off a stunt double's invitation to jump off the stage for the film. Despite a $135 million budget and boasting the names of celebrities like Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, the Pirates were expected to fail at the box office. Knightley's own was not positive about the company's prospects. The film debuted at number one on the box office and became one of the year's most highly regarded launches, with worldwide revenues totaling $654 million. Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times praised Knightley's "strident and secure" physical appearance to that of Nicole Kidman, according to his niece Kidman, while The A.V.'s Keith Phipps praised the A.V.'s. Her and Bloom were branded by the club as appealing leads.

Knightley appeared in Richard Curtis' Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually, which also included her childhood idol Emma Thompson. Juliet was a woman whose fiancée's best man is secretly in love with her. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers condemned Knightley's talent in a "nothing" role, while The Guardian's Megan Conner claimed that Knightley's role turned Knightley into a household name. Love Actually has been referred to as a modern-day Christmas classic. Knightley believes the film's path will be "extraordinary," given that its success has resurfaced a few years after it was announced. Knightley's sole release of the 2004 film King Arthur, in which she played Guinevere, a warrior queen, and the wife of the titular character. To perform, she had to learn boxing, archery, and riding. A. O. Scott praised Knightley for "throw[ing] herself bodily into every scene." Though the film received less critical feedback, Knightley's reputation as a performer rose; she was named as the industry's most promising teen actress by the readers of Hello magazine, and she was featured in Time magazine's article that said she wanted to develop herself as a serious actor rather than a film actress.

In 2005, Knightley appeared in three films, the first of which was the psychological thriller The Jacket, co-starring Adrien Brody. Kim Newman wrote a mixed review of Empire that described it as "getting out of time gear and speaking American" expands her reach, and she is arguably well-cast." In Tony Scott's French-American action film Domino, based on Domino Harvey's life, Knightley played the titular character. The film's debut was postponed on several occasions, and it received critical feedback and performed poorly at the box office on its eventual release in November.

Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen's book Pride and Prejudice, was Knightley's most commercial debut of the year. Knightley was portrayed by director Joe Wright for her tomboyish demeanor, as well as a "lively mind" and a sense of humour. "The beauty of Elizabeth is that every woman who ever reads the book seems to know herself, despite her flaws and imperfections," Knightley wrote about the book from a young age. Since its inception, the film has been a huge commercial success, with total sales of around US$120 million around the world, as well as positive critiques from critics. Peter Bradshaw wrote for The Guardian, describing her appearance as "beauty, delicacy, spirit, and wit" in her rising lustre and awe, and Variety's Derek Elley's "luminous power" was reminiscent of a teenage Audrey Hepburn's "luminous strength" in her growing lustre and optimism. Knightley received "Best Actress in a Leading Role" nominations at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards for her appearance at age 20, becoming the third-youngest nominee for the latter. Knightley's string of successes came as a result of increased media scrutiny, and she later admitted to having issues with her mental health during this time.

In 2006, Knightley was invited to participate in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences alongside other artists. Elizabeth Swann appeared in the second and third iterations of the Pirates of the Caribbean series later this year. Both sequels were created in 2004, with screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio completing a story arc that would span both films. Swann defiantly defy to find adventure and become a ruthless pirate and warrior to match Sparrow's and her love interest, Turner's plot. Knightley was able to practice sword-fighting, which she had been keen to do since the first film. The films were shot in 2005; the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which was released in July 2006. It became Knightley's biggest financial hit with worldwide collections of $1.066 billion. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the third instalment in the series, was announced in May. A. O. Scott characterized her appearance as "a vision of imperial British pluckiness," as well as an intriguing dash of romantic deceit that emerges near the end.

Knightley's continued involvement with period dramas produced contradictory results, as shown by two of her 2007 debuts, François Girard's Silk, and Joe Wright's Atonement, the full film adaptations of the novels by Alessandro Baricco and Ian McEwan respectively, as seen in her 2007 debuts. The former venture failed at the box office, but the latter became a driving and commercial success. Cecilia Tallis, the elder of the two Tallis sisters, who has a wartime romance with her love interest played by James McAvoy, appeared in Knightley's Cecilia Tallis. She confessed that the pacing on the smaller, more personal film was an improvement compared to the Pirates franchise. Knightley's research into the film included the novel as well as the "naturalism" of the role as seen in 1930s and 1940 films, including In Which We Serve (1942) and Brief Encounter (1945). She adored the multi-layered and "fascinating" nature of her character's behavior. Knightley's performance earned her BAFTA and the Golden Globes Awards, as well as in the top actress categories. Richard Roeper, who felt the lead pair were "best" in their respective roles, was perplexed by the pair's inability to receive Academy Award nominations. Knightley's green dress during the film's climactic scene attracted substantial media attention, and was later regarded as one of the finest costumes in film history.

In John Maybury's 2008 wartime drama The Edge of Love, knightley appeared alongside Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, and Matthew Rhys. Vera Phillips, a childhood friend of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and his partner Caitlin Macnamara, appeared in the film. Knightley wrote the script with her mother, Sharman Macdonald, with Macnamara in mind. With the film focusing on her relationship with a British soldier, Knightley's role was expanded. Knightley related to Vera's silence and referred to her as "tragic and beautiful." Marlene Dietrich based her appearance on Marlene Dietrich, who was to mime to her pre-recorded voice before being told by Maybury to perform live. Knightley initially felt ashamed to do so, saying she "shook] like a leaf," but eventually stuck with the scheme. The film became a moderately critical and commercial success upon its release. Knightley's performance and singing skills were lauded;The Independent reported that Knightley "gives Vera a freedom and complexity that's aeons ahead," while the Los Angeles Times noted that "the women own the film," with Knightley going from strength to strength (and showing she can sing!" (This is a quote from the '70s)"

In Saul Dibb's period drama The Duchess of Devonshire, based on Amanda Foreman's best-selling biographical book Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, Knightley starred as the 18th-century English aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. After her marriage disintegrates, Georgiana's ascension into society as a sociopolitical tastemaker is chronicled in the film. Knightley's script was enveloped in "huge white ostrich feathers" and a gold ribbon. Knightley "brought an instinctive understanding" of such elements of Georgiana's life as a celebrity based on her own experiences, according to director Gabrielle Tana. Knightley was attracted by her character's heft and position as a political influence and fashion prowess, but she was also insecure and marginalized. "Enigmatic, free-spirited role, and a role she'll be remembered for" is perhaps her best performance in a film not directed by Joe Wright, Simon Crooke of Empire. She was nominated for the Best Actress award in the United Kingdom by the following year. Due to a lack of funding, a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear is scheduled to star Knightley and Anthony Hopkins.

Knightley made her West End debut with Martin Crimp's interpretation of Molière's comedy The Misanthrope. The play was produced at the Comedy Theatre in December 2009, starring Knightley, Damian Lewis, Tara Fitzgerald, and Dominic Rowan. Jennifer was played by her in a shallow, amorous, and vulnerable American film actress marketed by an intelligent and veracious playwright. Knightley played the role because she felt that "if I don't do theatre right now, I think I'm going to start being too afraid to do it" and referred to the performance as a "extraordinary and incredibly fulfilling" experience. Knightley's "not only convincing, but also quite moving in its satiric aplomb," Paul Taylor of The Independent wrote. However, Michael Billington of the Guardian said that "one could say that she is not unduly stretched" due to the role's characteristics. Knightley was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and an Evening Standard Award in honor of her debut on stage.

Knightley's three films began with three films; she remarked that her experience during this period enabled her to "empathise with people or in situations where she doesn't necessarily find it easy to empathise with." Massy Tadjedin's romantic romance Last Night and William Monahan's crime noir film London Boulevard both received mixed feedback from critics and ranked among the lowest-grossing films in Knightley's career. Never Let Me Go, Knightley's latest release, a Kazuo Ishiguro's book of the same name that was published in the box office, did well and received rave reviews. Knightley's script was described as unique, prompting the reader to consider it. Ruth, one of three students of an autocratic boarding school who finds their destiny in a dystopia, was co-starring Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan. Maze, artist Stuart Pearson Wright's latest video work, featured her.

At the Comedy Theatre in London, Knightley appeared in a 2011 revival of The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman. In 1934, she portrayed Karen Wright, an active schoolteacher accused of lesbianism. The New York Times' Ben Brantley said that her appearance displayed an "intensity" and "credible ferocity" within the dated content. David Cronenberg's sole film release of 2011 was A Dangerous Method, co-starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, and Vincent Cassel. The film, based on writer Christopher Hampton's 2002 stage play The Talking Cure, depicts the turbulent friendships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud, and Sabina Spielrein. Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young psychoanalyst who comes between Jung and Freud, was depicted by Knightley. To prepare for the role, Knightley spent four months reading and discussing her character's behavior with psychologists. She adored the bread and bread of her character arc, which she described as unusual for female roles. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival to a favorable reception, while Knightley received generally favorable feedback from critics, with Salon's Andrew O'Hehir describing her as "the true star of this film."

Knightley co-starred with Steve Carell in the 2012 comedy-drama Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, which was also critically criticized." Anna Karenina, director Joe Wright's third film in which she starred as the title character, was released later this year. She rated this collaboration as the most important of her career. Knightley viewed that her character's "moral culpability" was in question, but she had a deep admiration for her. Knightley received rave reviews for her appearance, sparking early Oscar buzz. Knightley's "puts hearts and anguish on the line in attempting to bring an emotional reality," Batsy Sharky of the Los Angeles Times wrote. Mark Ruffalo appeared in Begin Again, Knightley's first musical film at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. The film, directed by John Carney, was released in 2014 at its theatrical premiere. Knightley and Ruffalo were "fully natural" as the increasingly idealistic musos, according to the Guardian. Carney later sluggishly referred to Knightley's role in the film as a "model" and said she was not convincing enough in portraying a singer-songwriter. He later apologised to her over a post on Twitter for his remarks. Knightley later stated that music "never sinks in" for her, and that she is more interested in novels and drama. She appeared in Karl Lagerfeld's short period film Once Upon a Time... later this year.

Knightley said in July 2014 that she had reached the end of her career's first year and wanted to move away from "neurotic" roles. Jack Ryan: Shadow recruit, the fifth instalment in the film series, opened in Knightley, and Chris Pine joined him in 2014. Dr. Cathy Muller, Ryan's potential wife, was portrayed by her. Knightley wanted to do a lighter film than her previous films and looked forward to working with director Kenneth Branagh. Although mixed critical feedback had been received, the film nevertheless had a high box-office reaction. At the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, Knightley's next film Laggies premiered. Chlo's Grace Moretz and Sam Rockwell appear in the film, a 28-year-old overeducated underachiever going through a quarter-life crisis. Knightley empathized with her character's slowed aging and applauded the film's viewing from a female perspective. Laggies received mainly critical feedback from analysts, with Knightley's success lauded by critics. Inkoo Kaang of TheWrap referred to her as a "loose-limbed revelation" and praised her "delightfully uncouth" appearance.

The film was followed by her appearance in Morten Tyldum's historical drama The Imitation Game, a film based on the life of British mathematician Alan Turing, was based on the life of British mathematician Alan Turing, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. During World War II, Knightley portrayed cryptanalyst and numismatist Joan Clarke, who decrypted German intelligence codes for the British government. Knightley conducted interviews with Clarke and sought to keep her "upper-class presence," emphasizing the intricacy of her emotions and protectiveness of Turing from the script. The Imitation Game was a huge and commercial success, grossing more than $233.6 million. Knightley's second Academy Award and BAFTA Award nominations for her appearance, as well as her third Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Lady Jean Forde, who served with Clarke and Turing, found Knightley was "nothing like" Clarke and was "too beautiful" to play her.

Knightley's only appearance in the biographical disaster film Everest came in 2015. The film was based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, with Knightley portraying mountaineer Rob Hall's wife. Everest received generally favorable reviews from critics. Knightley delivered a "deeply felt performance" as a woman "afraid" of losing her husband, according to Variety. Knightley made her Broadway debut in Helen Edmundson's production of Émile Zola's Thérèse Raquin at Studio 54 in October 2015. Since being unable of doing the role, Knightly took the lead. As she sought to move away from passive supporting roles, she became interested in her character's "caged" situation as well as her shady, active part in the play. "She cries, rages, and spits," Alexandra Villarreal of The Huffington Post wrote, "She smoulders, fumes, and smites, and she's on the decline, and you can follow her emotional transformation from stifled wife to haunted murderer."

Knightley was supposed to star in a feature biopic about 18th-century Russian empress Catherine the Great, directed by Barbra Stora, but it didn't come to fruition. Knightley appeared in the ensemble drama Collateral Beauty (2016) starring Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, and Helen Mirren. The film was critically criticized and earned the actor a Razzie Award. Despite publicly stating that she would not return to the Pirates of the Caribbean series on several occasions, Knightley reprised Elizabeth Swann's role in 2017's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Knightley appeared in Colette's biographical drama as the titular French author. Colette's social climb in belle era culture is seen in the film, but her husband, who plagiarises her work, abuses her. Knightley argued that the film linked closely to modern-day feminism, as well as depicting cultural transition in gender politics. Knightley read Colette's books, among them The Vagabond and Chéri, and she had intended to visit Burgundy, France, to prepare for the part. She found the author "inspiring" and adored her flaws as well as her courage. The film, which was exhibited at the Sundance Film Festival, was extremely popular, with Knightley's role drawing acclaim. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times praised her energy and "expressive physical appearance," while Jordan Hoffman of The Guardian said Knightley was "in top form: luminous, imaginative, sexy, and sympathetic." In the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity, Knightley was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

She appeared in Disney's version of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, which was widely rejected the year before. Knightley appeared in The Aftermath, a film adaptation of Rhidian Brook's book, with Alexander Skarsgrd and William Skarsgrd. Rachel was played by Knightley, a "cold and complicated" British army wife who was traumatized by her son's death by a German bomb. The film takes her and her partner as a result of tragedy in Germany. The film received mixed reviews. Knightley was praised by the Boston Globe for bringing "conviction, love, and hum" to the film, but Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times thought Knightley and Skarsgrd were too reserved. In Official Secrets (2019), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2019, Knightley portrayed whistleblower Katharine Gun. (2019) Knightley loved the film's portrayal of the Iraq war and government accountability in relation to modern politics. Peter Bradshaw, a columnist for The Guardian, praised Knightley's "focused, credible, and sympathetic performance." Gunwoman Elizabeth May also expressed her dissatisfaction with the film.

Sally Alexander, a feminist activist on Misbehaviour (2020), a film about the crowning of the first black contestant at the 1970 Miss World Championship, was Knightley's first role of the decade. The film explores intersectionality in second wave feminism; Knightley was drawn to the project's political aspects. Misbehaviour was welcomed warmly by Variety's Guy Lodge, who characterized Knightly as "likable as ever" but acknowledged that she portrays "the least interesting figure." Knightley had intended to produce and appear in The Essex Serpent, an Apple TV+ version of Sarah Perry's book, but she had to cancel due to concerns about childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. She appeared in Silent Night, a 1920 holiday film. Knightley appeared in the animated film Charlotte, a true tale about a young artist during the Holocaust.

Knightley will appear in an adaptation of Ann Leckie's sci-fi book Ancillary Justice, as well as reporter Loretta McLaughlin in the drama film Boston Strangler based on the infamous true story of Boston Strangler murders, written and directed by Matt Ruskin.

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