Keira Knightley

Photo of Keira Knightley

Biography

Possessed of a willowy physicality that belied her formidable inner strength, British actress Keira Knightley rose to international prominence after starring in an independent film and a big-budget action-adventure movie, but it was her nuanced work in both period pieces and contemporary dramas that placed her at the top of the list of film's most talented young stars. Having begun her professional career by the age of seven, Knightley was …
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Career Milestones

2012

Played title role in feature adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina," directed by Joe Wright

2012

Cast opposite Steve Carell in "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World"

2011

Co-starred with Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen in David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method"

2010

Co-starred opposite Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan in the drama "Never Let Me Go," based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro

2009

Portrayed Dylan Thomas' childhood sweetheart in "The Edge of Love"

2008

Nominated for the 2008 People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Star

2008

Portrayed Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire in the feature adaption of the best-selling biography, "The Duchess"

2007

Co-starred with James McAvoy in the period drama, "Atonement" based on the novel by Ian McEwan; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama

2007

Played a French silkworm merchant's wife, opposite Michael Pitt in the period drama "Silk"

2007

Reprised role of Elizabeth Swann in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

2006

Re-teamed with Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in Gore Verbinski's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

2005

Cast as Elizabeth Bennet, the eldest of five sisters in "Pride and Prejudice," an adaptation of the Jane Austen classic, directed by Joe Wright; earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress

2005

Portrayed Domino Harvey, a model-turned-bounty hunter and daughter of actor Laurence Harvey in Tony Scott's "Domino"

2004

Cast as Guinevere opposite Clive Owen in "King Arthur" a demystified take on the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

2003

Co-starred in Richard Curtis' directorial debut "Love Actually"

2003

Joined Johnny Depp for the action summer feature "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"

2003

Co-starred in the sleeper hit "Bend it Like Beckham"

2001

Co-starred in the independent thriller "The Hole"

1999

Portrayed the character Sabe who acted as a decoy to Natalie Portman's character in "Star Wars Episode 1"

1996

Cast as the princess in the television feature "Treasure Seekers"

1994

First film role in Moira Armstong's "A Villiage Affair"

1989

Obtained her first agent by the age of six

Awards

2008

MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

2007

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Atonement

2007

BAFTA Award for Leading Actress in Atonement

2007

MTV Movie Award for Best Performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

2005

Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Pride & Prejudice

2005

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in Pride & Prejudice

2005

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Pride & Prejudice

2004

MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Female in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl