---
name: "Keira Knightley"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/keira-knightley"
fi1m_id: "keira-knightley"
imdb_id: "nm0461136"
tmdb_id: 116
wikidata_id: "Q42581"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 March 1985"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 17
updated: "2026-10-05T13:41:46.541794+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Keira Knightley

## Identity

Keira Knightley

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/keira-knightley
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** keira-knightley
- **IMDb ID:** nm0461136
- **TMDB ID:** 116
- **Wikidata ID:** Q42581
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keira_Knightley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42581, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461136/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/116

Actor. Born 26 March 1985 in Teddington, London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 March 1985, Teddington, London, England, UK
- **Active:** 1999–present
- **Also known as:** Keira Christina Knightley
- **Frequently works with:** [Tim Bevan](https://film.one/person/tim-bevan.md), [Eric Fellner](https://film.one/person/eric-fellner.md), [Gore Verbinski](https://film.one/person/gore-verbinski.md), [Jack Davenport](https://film.one/person/jack-davenport.md), [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://film.one/person/jerry-bruckheimer.md), [Joe Wright](https://film.one/person/joe-wright.md), [Johnny Depp](https://film.one/person/johnny-depp.md), [Orlando Bloom](https://film.one/person/orlando-bloom.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 17 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 52 (1), 2000s 70 (8), 2010s 66 (8)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 62 across 17 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 10 of 15 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 12, Romance 8, Adventure 6, Action 5, History 5, Fantasy 4
- **Screen time:** 35 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $5,769m across 17 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keira_Knightley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42581, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461136/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/116

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md) (81), [*Bend It Like Beckham*](https://film.one/film/bend-it-like-beckham.md) (76), [*Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest.md) (63), [*Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End*](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end.md) (55)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Imitation Game*](https://film.one/film/the-imitation-game.md) (73), [*Love Actually*](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md) (58)
- **Peacock:** [*Begin Again*](https://film.one/film/begin-again.md) (73)
- **AMC+:** [*Official Secrets*](https://film.one/film/official-secrets.md) (68)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Duchess*](https://film.one/film/the-duchess.md) (66)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Keira Knightley

> Keira Knightley is most persuasive when her characters have rules to resist. She brings conviction to literary heroines, though her firmness can look brittle; the early romantic roles give a much less useful measure of her acting.

In *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann must make us care about a romance the screenplay has barely developed. Gore Verbinski’s adventure is easy to recommend for Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, but her scenes with Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner are thinner. We were frustrated by the love story because it interrupts characters who have been given more to say. Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio give their eccentrics the attention the lovers needed. It is difficult to judge Knightley’s abilities from a part that asks so little of them.

Her breakthrough in *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002) was followed by the double exposure of *Pirates* and *Love Actually* (2003). Richard Curtis’s ensemble romance gives her Juliet, but it also gives too many of its cast abbreviated stories. Our mixed view of that film is not a verdict on Knightley’s performance. These two films explain her early prominence better than they explain what she can do with a substantial role.

The literary adaptations offer more useful evidence. Her Elizabeth Bennet in *Pride & Prejudice* (2005) and Cecilia Tallis in *Atonement* (2007) belong to the line of women negotiating social constraints that has become central to her work. She brings conviction to that struggle, though the firmness can look brittle. At her most convincing, she makes compliance seem like hard work.

Smaller contemporary and independent films became a greater part of her work after the mid-2010s. In *Official Secrets* (2019), the focused, spare delivery gives a thriller a dependable centre. That is a useful corrective to the idea that her strength depends on a literary heroine and a period setting. We would start with *Pride & Prejudice* for Knightley herself, and keep *Pirates* for an evening when the adventure matters more than the love story.

## Biography

Keira Knightley is an English actress. She was born on 26 March 1985 in Teddington, London, to actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald. She obtained an agent at the age of six and began working in commercials and television films.

Knightley appeared as Sabé in *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace* (1999). Her breakthrough came with *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002). She achieved global recognition as Elizabeth Swann in *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), a role she reprised in later films in the series. She also appeared in *Love Actually* (2003) and *Pride & Prejudice* (2005), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Knightley was appointed an OBE in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (17)

- *Official Secrets* (2019), Fi1m 68, as Katharine Gun — [page](https://film.one/film/official-secrets.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales* (2017), Fi1m 45, as Elizabeth Swann — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales.md)
- *Everest* (2015), Fi1m 61, as Jan Arnold — [page](https://film.one/film/everest.md)
- *The Imitation Game* (2014), Fi1m 73, as Joan Clarke — [page](https://film.one/film/the-imitation-game.md)
- *Begin Again* (2013), Fi1m 73, as Gretta James — [page](https://film.one/film/begin-again.md)
- *Anna Karenina* (2012), Fi1m 64, as Anna Karenina — [page](https://film.one/film/anna-karenina.md)
- *A Dangerous Method* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Sabina Spielrein — [page](https://film.one/film/a-dangerous-method.md)
- *Never Let Me Go* (2010), Fi1m 73, as Ruth C. — [page](https://film.one/film/never-let-me-go.md)
- *The Duchess* (2008), Fi1m 66, as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire — [page](https://film.one/film/the-duchess.md)
- *Atonement* (2007), Fi1m 83, as Cecilia Tallis — [page](https://film.one/film/atonement.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End* (2007), Fi1m 55, as Elizabeth Swann — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* (2006), Fi1m 63, as Elizabeth Swann — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest.md)
- *Pride & Prejudice* (2005), Fi1m 82, as Elizabeth Bennet — [page](https://film.one/film/pride-and-prejudice-2005.md)
- *Love Actually* (2003), Fi1m 58, as Juliet — [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), Fi1m 81, as Elizabeth Swann — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md)
- *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002), Fi1m 76, as Juliette 'Jules' Paxton — [page](https://film.one/film/bend-it-like-beckham.md)
- *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), Fi1m 52, as Sabé — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md)

## Complete filmography (71)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Woman in Cabin 10* (2025), as Laura 'Lo' Blacklock
- *Black Doves* (2024), series, as Helen Webb · Executive Producer
- *Boston Strangler* (2023), as Loretta McLaughlin
- *The Sound Collector* (2023), series, as Narrator
- *Charlotte* (2022), as Charlotte Salomon (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Silent Night* (2021), as Nell
- *Misbehaviour* (2020), as Sally Alexander
- *Berlin, I Love You* (2019), as Jane
- *Official Secrets* (2019), as Katharine Gun — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/official-secrets.md)
- *The Aftermath* (2019), as Rachael Morgan
- *The Nutcracker and the Four Realms* (2018), as Sugar Plum Fairy
- *Colette* (2018), as Colette
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales* (2017), as Elizabeth Swann — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales.md)
- *Red Nose Day Actually* (2017), as Juliet
- *Collateral Beauty* (2016), as Amy Moore
- *Everest* (2015), as Jan Arnold — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/everest.md)
- *The Imitation Game* (2014), as Joan Clarke — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-imitation-game.md)
- *Laggies* (2014), as Megan Burch
- *Begin Again* (2014), as Gretta James — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/begin-again.md)
- *Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit* (2014), as Cathy Muller
- *Once Upon a Time...* (2013), as Gabrielle Chanel
- *Wide-Awake* (2012), as The Witch
- *Stars in Shorts* (2012), as Woman
- *Anna Karenina* (2012), as Anna Karenina — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/anna-karenina.md)
- *Seeking a Friend for the End of the World* (2012), as Penelope "Penny" Lockhart
- *Neverland* (2011), series, as Tinker Bell (voice)
- *A Dangerous Method* (2011), as Sabina Spielrein — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/a-dangerous-method.md)
- *London Boulevard* (2010), as Charlotte
- *Last Night* (2010), as Joanna Reed
- *Never Let Me Go* (2010), as Ruth C. — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/never-let-me-go.md)
- *Steve* (2010), as Woman
- *The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers* (2009), as The Fairy
- *The Duchess* (2008), as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-duchess.md)
- *The Edge of Love* (2008), as Vera Phillips
- *Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind* (2007), as Em (voice)
- *Silk* (2007), as Hélène Joncour
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End* (2007), as Elizabeth Swann — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end.md)
- *Atonement* (2007), as Cecilia Tallis — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/atonement.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* (2006), as Elizabeth Swann — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest.md)
- *Domino* (2005), as Domino Harvey
- *Pride & Prejudice* (2005), as Elizabeth Bennet — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/pride-and-prejudice-2005.md)
- *My Shot With* (2005), series, Actor
- *The Jacket* (2005), as Jackie Price
- *Stories of Lost Souls* (2004), as Leah
- *The Making of King Arthur* (2004), Actor
- *King Arthur* (2004), as Guinevere
- *Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates* (2003), Actor
- *Love Actually* (2003), as Juliet — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md)
- *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), as Elizabeth Swann — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md)
- *The Seasons Alter* (2002), as Helena
- *Doctor Zhivago* (2002), series, as Larissa Ameliava 'Lara' Antipova
- *New Year's Eve* (2002), as Leah
- *Pure* (2002), as Louise
- *Thunderpants* (2002), as Music School Student
- *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002), as Juliette 'Jules' Paxton — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/bend-it-like-beckham.md)
- *The Hole* (2001), as Frances 'Frankie' Almond Smith
- *Princess of Thieves* (2001), as Gwyn
- *Deflation* (2001), as Jogger
- *Oliver Twist* (1999), series, as Rose Fleming
- *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), as Sabé — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md)
- *Coming Home* (1998), series, as Young Judith
- *Coming Home* (1998), as Young Judith
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1997), series, as Gwyn
- *The Treasure Seekers* (1996), as The Princess
- *Innocent Lies* (1995), as Young Celia
- *A Village Affair* (1995), as Natasha Jordan
- *Royal Celebration* (1993), as Angela
- *Screen One* (1989), series, as Angela
- *The Bill* (1984), series, as Sheena Rose
- *Conception*, Actor
- *The Worst*, as Holly

## Gallery

- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-414b2b9b5668.jpg) Keira Knightley — Andrea Raffin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/KeiraKnightleyByAndreaRaffin2011_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Keira Knightley, Wash Westmoreland, Dominic West, Gary Michael Walters, Elizabeth Karlsen and Pamela Koffler (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-14721f4af14a.jpg) Keira Knightley, Wash Westmoreland, Dominic West, Gary Michael Walters, Elizabeth Karlsen and Pamela Koffler (2018) — https://www.flickr.com/photos/punktoad/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/%22Collette%2C%22_Sundance_2018%2C_Park_City_UT_%2832562467737%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Director Mark Romanek with author Kazuo Ishiguro and several Never Let Me Go cast members on October 13, 2010](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-d8e614452c64.jpg) Director Mark Romanek with author Kazuo Ishiguro and several Never Let Me Go cast members on October 13, 2010 — Bex.Walton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Cast_of_Never_Let_Me_Go_%40_BFI_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Cast_of_Never_Let_Me_Go_%40_BFI_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 She's actually about to laugh when realizing that's my Sense and Sensibility a](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-88e04c4a1d05.jpg) Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 She's actually about to laugh when realizing that's my Sense and Sensibility a — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Dangerous_Method_15_%286929253163%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-9813c56e1309.jpg) Keira Knightley — Image via TMDB
- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-380b0ad11a66.jpg) Keira Knightley — Image via TMDB
- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-60e4dc04e824.jpg) Keira Knightley — Image via TMDB
- ![Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-195cf78ddd01.jpg) Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Dangerous_Method_17_%286929253529%29.jpg/1280px-Dangerous_Method_17_%286929253529%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-223a26243ca8.jpg) Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley at the premiere of A Dangerous Method, Toronto Film Festival 2011 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Dangerous_Method_19_%286783135008%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-c1065e2aa0c9.jpg) Keira Knightley — Image via TMDB
- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-0a8195604f71.jpg) Keira Knightley — Image via TMDB
- ![Keira Knightley](https://film.one/media/person/98152/gallery-990e65d6af45.jpg) Keira Knightley — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2015: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Imitation Game*
- 2006: Best Actress (nominated), for *Pride & Prejudice*

### Other awards — 2 won, 2 nominated

- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2015: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *The Imitation Game*
- European Film Award for Best Actress 2013: European Film Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Anna Karenina*
- Empire Award for Best Actress 2008: Empire Award for Best Actress (won), for *Atonement*
- Teen Choice Award for Choice Hissy Fit 2006: Teen Choice Award for Choice Hissy Fit (won), for *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/keira-knightley