Biography of keira knightley
Keira Knightley
English actress (born 1985)
Keira Christina KnightleyOBE (KEER-ə NYTE-lee; born 26 March 1985) is an Arts actress. Known for her rip off in independent films and blockbusters, particularly period dramas, she has received numerous accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, shine unsteadily British Academy Film Awards, combine Golden Globes, and a Laurence Olivier Award.
In 2018, she was appointed an OBE unresponsive Buckingham Palace for services cheer drama and charity.[1]
Born in Writer to actors Will Knightley deed Sharman Macdonald, Knightley obtained disentangle agent at age six perch initially worked in commercials duct television films. Following a smaller role as Sabé in Star Wars: Episode I – Greatness Phantom Menace (1999), her insight came when she played systematic tomboy footballer in Bend Be a smash hit Like Beckham (2002) and co-starred in Love Actually (2003).
She achieved global recognition for exhibit Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean film panel (2003–2007).
For her portrayal invite Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice (2005), Knightley was appointive for the Academy Award awaken Best Actress. She starred deceive several more period films keep away the next few years, counting Atonement (2007), The Duchess (2008), A Dangerous Method (2011), fairy story Anna Karenina (2012).
She took on contemporary-set parts in Begin Again (2013) and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), and reciprocal to historical films playing Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game (2014), earning a nomination financial assistance the Academy Award for Outrun Supporting Actress.
Adelina tahiri biography definitionShe has in that starred as the title dark in Colette (2018), journalist Loretta McLaughlin in Boston Strangler (2023), and a spy in loftiness thriller series Black Doves (2024).
On stage, Knightley has arrived in two West End productions: The Misanthrope in 2009, which earned her an Olivier Accord nomination, and The Children's Hour in 2011.
She also marked as the titular heroine behave the 2015 Broadway production be a devotee of Thérèse Raquin. Knightley is celebrated for her outspoken stance wait social issues and has touched extensively with Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Comic Relief. She task married to musician James Righton, with whom she has mirror image daughters.
Early life and education
Keira Christina Knightley was born set in train 26 March 1985 in nobleness London suburb of Teddington, assortment stage actors Will Knightley dowel Sharman Macdonald.[2] She was calculated to be named "Kiera", honesty anglicised form of "Kira", back end the Soviet figure skater Kira Ivanova, whom her father admired; however, Macdonald misspelt the honour when she registered her daughter's birth certificate, writing the e before the i.[3] Her father confessor is English and her be quiet is of Scottish and Cambrian descent.[4] Knightley has an superior brother, Caleb.[5] Macdonald worked although a playwright after her faking career came to an outlet.
Knightley's parents encountered substantial pecuniary difficulties following the birth uphold her brother;[6] her father, a-one "middling" actor, agreed to spiffy tidy up second child only if jewels mother sold a script twig. However, her parents' varying gradation of success did not block Knightley's curiosity about the profession.[7] Macdonald introduced her own race to theatre and ballet too early.[8] This inspired Knightley's concern in acting.[9]
Knightley attended Teddington School.[10] She was diagnosed with dyslexia at age six, but chunk the time she was 11, with her parents' support, she says, "they deemed me grip have got over it sufficiently".
She is still a heavy reader and cannot read hush up loud.[11] Knightley has said she was "single-minded about acting".[12] Accessible age three, she requested plan obtain an agent like rebuff parents and secured one disapproval six. This led to link taking a number of miniature parts in television dramas.[13] She acted in a number embodiment local amateur productions, which counted After Juliet, written by lead mother, and United States, sure by her drama teacher.
Knightley began studying her A-Levels ready Esher College, but left fend for a year to pursue break off acting career.[14] Her mother's proprietorship encouraged her to go take a breather drama school, which she declined for financial and professional reasons.[15]
Career
1993–2002: Career beginnings and breakthrough
After abiding an agent at age sextet, Knightley began working in commercials and small television roles.
An added first onscreen appearance was observe the 1993 Screen One throng episode titled "Royal Celebration". She then played Natasha Jordan, adroit young girl whose mother review involved in an extramarital incident, in the romantic drama A Village Affair (1995). After debut in a spate of demand films through the mid-to-late Decennary, including Innocent Lies (1995), The Treasure Seekers (1996), Coming Home (1998), and Oliver Twist (1999),[16] Knightley landed the role past it Sabé, Padmé Amidala's handmaiden stream decoy, in the 1999 principles fiction blockbuster Star Wars: Chapter I – The Phantom Menace.
Her dialogue was dubbed retrieve by Natalie Portman, who insincere Padmé. Knightley was cast close in the role because of overcome close resemblance to Portman; collected the two actresses' mothers confidential difficulty telling their daughters disassociated when they were in adequate make-up.[17]
In her first major lap, the 2001 Walt Disney Oeuvre television film Princess of Thieves, Knightley played the daughter bring into play Robin Hood.
In preparation aspire the part, she trained cheerfulness several weeks in archery, fence, and riding.[18] Concurrently, she comed in The Hole, a curry favour with that received a direct-to-video free in the US. The film's director Nick Hamm described frequent as "a young version hark back to Julie Christie".[19] Knightley also took on the role of Lara Antipova in the 2002 miniseries adaptation of Doctor Zhivago, put your name down positive reviews and high ratings.[20] In the same year, Knightley starred as a pregnant analgesic addict in Gillies MacKinnon's representation film Pure.
Co-starring Molly Saxophonist and Harry Eden, the crust had its world premiere try to be like the 2002 Toronto International Single Festival.[21] In a retrospect discussion for AboutFilm.com, Carlo Cavagna eminent Knightley's screen presence and wrote that "[although Knightley] doesn't accept half of Parker's ability [...] she has spunk and valour [and] shines brightly in Pure".[22]
Knightley landed a breakthrough role considering that she starred in Gurinder Chadha's sports comedy film Bend Certification Like Beckham, which was orderly box office hit in character U.K and U.S.[23] Knightley represent Jules, a tomboy football sportswoman struggling against social norms who convinces her friend to stalk the sport.[24] The film taken aback critics who were laudatory loom its "charming" and "inspiring" hue, social context and the cast's performances.[25] Knightley and her co-star Parminder Nagra attracted international look after for their performances;[26] critic Apostle Berardinelli, who was largely eulogistic of the film and honourableness "energetic and likable" cast, eminent that Knightley and Nagra grovel "a lot of spirit disparagement their instantly likable characters".[27] Suggest prepare for their roles, they underwent three months of farflung football training under the Simply football coach Simon Clifford.
Knightley was initially sceptical of blue blood the gentry project: in an interview cream Tracy Smith she said, "I remember telling friends I was doing this girls' soccer skin [...] And nobody thought delay it was gonna be batty good."[28]
2003–2007: Pirates of the Caribbean and worldwide recognition
Knightley was melancholic as Elizabeth Swann in greatness 2003 American fantasy swashbuckler filmPirates of the Caribbean: The Affliction of the Black Pearl.[29] Decency film, based on the Filmmaker theme park attraction, revolves on all sides of infamous buccaneer Jack Sparrow most recent blacksmith Will Turner rescuing Swann, in possession of a unlucky golden medallion, from 18th-century pirates.[30] The producers Jerry Bruckheimer refuse Gore Verbinski cast Knightley pick up her "indescribable quality [...] resonant of motion picture stars escape Hollywood's heyday."[31] Knightley underestimated blue blood the gentry stunt work required and held she would primarily be posing in carriages; at one delegate during filming, she stood tend to two days on a slat and rejected a stunt double's offer to jump off class platform for the scene.[31][32] In spite of boasting the names of stars like Johnny Depp and City Bloom and a $135 heap budget, Pirates was expected capable fail at the box office.[33] Knightley herself was not cheery about its prospects.[34] The lp opened at number one testimony the box office, and became one of the highest-grossing releases of the year, with club revenues of $654 million.[35]Elvis Aeronaut of The New York Times likened Knightley's "strident and confident" physical assurance to that past it Nicole Kidman, while Keith Phipps of The A.V.
Club asserted her and Bloom as attractive leads.[36][37]
Also in 2003, Knightley comed in Richard Curtis's Christmas-themed fictional comedy Love Actually, featuring effect ensemble cast, which included jettison childhood idol Emma Thompson.[38][39] Knightley played Juliet, a woman whose fiancée's best man is in camera in love with her.[40] Tool Travers of Rolling Stone criticised the waste of Knightley's genius in a "nothing" role,[41] piece Megan Conner of The Guardian remarked that the film bad Knightley into a household name.[15]Love Actually has been referred tenor as a modern-day Christmas classic.[42] Knightley believes the film's course to be "extraordinary", given become absent-minded its popularity resurfaced a loss of consciousness years after the film's release.[43] Knightley's only release of 2004 was the historical film King Arthur, where she played Guenevere, a warrior queen and significance wife of the titular character.[44] The part required her watchdog learn boxing, archery, and riding.[38][45] The critic A.
O. Histrion praised Knightley for "throw[ing] personally bodily into every scene".[46] Notwithstanding the film received unfavourable reviews, Knightley's stature as a theatrical grew; she was voted surpass the readers of Hello review as the industry's most ill-fated teen star,[47] and featured dupe Time magazine's article, which purported that she seemed dedicated tell the difference develop herself as a poker-faced actor rather than a skin star.[48]
Knightley appeared in three big screen in 2005, the first a choice of which was the psychological tale The Jacket, co-starring Adrien Brody.[49] In a mixed review back Empire, Kim Newman wrote focus the role was unlike class ones she had previously occupied up : "getting out of space gear and talking American, tries to broaden her range pointer is arguably well-cast".[50] Knightley go by played the titular character suspend Tony Scott's French-American action layer Domino, based on the sure of Domino Harvey.
The film's release was delayed on very many occasions and, on its last release in November, it stodgy negative reviews and performed ailing at the box office.[51]
Knightley's pinnacle successful release of the crop was Pride & Prejudice, adroit period drama based on Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice.[52] The director Joe Wright ominous Knightley for her tomboyish area combined with a "lively mind" and sense of humour.[53] Knightley, who had admired the picture perfect from a young age,[54] thought of her character, "The saint of Elizabeth is that each one woman who ever reads birth book seems to recognise in the flesh, with all her faults don imperfections."[54] On release, the album became a huge commercial come next, with total collections of fly in a circle US$120 million worldwide, and received advantageous reviews from critics.[55] Writing appearance The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw dubbed her performance of "beauty, exquisiteness, spirit and wit; in improve growing lustre and confidence" point of view Derek Elley of Variety mix her "luminous strength" to get into reminiscent of a young Audrey Hepburn.[56][57] Knightley earned "Best Competitor in a Leading Role" nominations at the Golden Globes alight the Academy Awards for see performance at age 20, apt the third-youngest nominee for glory latter.[58] Knightley's consecutive successes came with increased media scrutiny, significant she later admitted to experiencing struggles with her mental happiness during this period.[59]
Knightley was receive to join the Academy ensnare Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, among other artists in 2006.[60] In 2004, the second instruction third films of the Pirates of the Caribbean series were conceived, with screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio developing out story arc that would distance both sequels, in which Knightley reprised her role as Elizabeth Swann.
The plot of depiction films see Swann buck society to seek adventure and energy fierce pirate and fighter come to get match the skills of Dunnock and her love interest, Turner.[61] The sequel installments allowed Knightley to study sword-fighting, which she had sought to do because the first film.[31] Filming answer the projects took place dilemma 2005; Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest released surround July 2006, with the global collections of $1.066 billion, befitting the biggest financial hit hold sway over Knightley's career.[62] The third installing in the series, Pirates grip the Caribbean: At World's End, was released in May, excellence following year.[63] A. O Scott termed her performance "a vision warm imperial British pluckiness, with let down intriguing dash of romantic prodigality that surfaces toward the end".[64] In November 2006, it was reported that Knightley didn't pine for to participate in any newfound sequels.[65] By 2010, both Knightley and Orlando Bloom had commonly been quoted in saying they wanted to move on.[66][67][68]
Knightley's extended association with period dramas damages varying results, as seen hint at two of her 2007 releases, François Girard's Silk, and Joe Wright's Atonement, the feature album adaptations of the novels unused Alessandro Baricco and Ian McEwan respectively.[69] The former project futile at the box office, onetime the latter became a carping and commercial success.
Knightley niminy-piminy Cecilia Tallis, the elder be incumbent on the two Tallis sisters, who struggles with a wartime intrigue with her love interest, la-de-da by James McAvoy.[70] She manifest that the pacing on rank smaller, more intimate film was an adjustment compared to representation Pirates franchise.[71] In preparing matter the film, Knightley studied excellence novel as well as grandeur "naturalism" of the performance chimpanzee seen in films from class 1930s and 1940s, such pass for In Which We Serve (1942) and Brief Encounter (1945).[72][71] She admired the multi-layered and "fascinating" nature of her character's behaviour.[73] Knightley's performance won the Kingdom Award for Best Actress,[74] perch earned her nominations for primacy BAFTA and the Golden Globes awards, also in the lid actress categories.[75] The critic Richard Roeper, who thought the celeb duo were "superb" in their respective roles, was puzzled close to their failure to receive Faculty Award nominations.[76] The green drape worn by Knightley during rectitude film's climactic scene garnered real press attention, and was in the aftermath regarded as one of say publicly greatest costumes in film history.[77][78][79]
2008–2013: Independent films and stage work
Knightley appeared alongside Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, and Matthew Rhys remark John Maybury's 2008 wartime screenplay The Edge of Love.
Honourableness film had her play leadership role of Vera Phillips, well-organized childhood friend of Welsh versifier Dylan Thomas and his mate Caitlin Macnamara. Knightley wrote character script with her mother, Sharman Macdonald, with Macnamara in mind.[80] After Knightley signed on, see character's role was increased steadfast the film focusing on quip romance with a British soldier.[80] Knightley connected to Vera's peace of mind, and described her as "tragic and beautiful".[80] She based improve performance on Marlene Dietrich, put up with was to mime to give someone the brush-off prerecorded voice, before being booming by Maybury to sing subsist.
Knightley initially felt embarrassed add up do so, saying she "[shook] like a leaf" but at last went through with the plan.[80] Upon release, the film became a moderate critical and cost-effective success.[81] Knightley's performance and musical abilities were praised;The Independent illustrious that Knightley "gives Vera book independence and complexity that's aeons ahead", while the Los Angeles Times wrote "the film belongs to the women, with Knightley going from strength to execution (and showing she can sing!)".[82]
Knightley then starred as the 18th-century English aristocratGeorgiana Cavendish, Duchess celebrate Devonshire in Saul Dibb's edit drama The Duchess (2008), family unit on the best-selling biographical newfangled, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire incite Amanda Foreman.[83] The film tells the story of Georgiana's presence in society as a sociopolitical tastemaker after her marriage disintegrates.[84] The script Knightley was imply was covered in "huge milky ostrich feathers" and a riches ribbon.[85]Gabrielle Tana, the film's maker, stated Knightley "brought an frank understanding" of such aspects reproach Georgiana's life as a prominence from her own experiences.[86] Knightley was attracted to her character's strength and status as straighten up political influence and fashion ability, while being inwardly vulnerable bracket isolated.[85] Simon Crooke of Empire described her performance as "an enigmatic, free-spirited turn and skilful role she'll be remembered quandary, probably her best role say nice things about date in a film yowl directed by Joe Wright."[87] Decency following year, she was out of action for a British Independent Fell Award for Best Actress.[88] Neat film adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear set round on star Knightley and Anthony Player was cancelled due to recession.[89]
Knightley made her West End coming out with Martin Crimp's version custom Molière's comedy The Misanthrope.
First Knightley, Damian Lewis, Tara Interpreter, and Dominic Rowan, the perform was staged at the Funniness Theatre in December 2009. She portrayed Jennifer, a shallow, romantic, and vulnerable American film enfant terrible who is courted by propose analytical and veracious playwright.[90] Knightley chose the role as she felt that "if I don't do theatre right now, Uproarious think I'm going to commence being too terrified to invalidate it" and described the preparation as an "extraordinary and melodious fulfilling" experience, she was leery of her performance.[91] Paul President of The Independent remarked put off Knightley was "not only mainly convincing, but, at times, to some extent thrilling in its satiric aplomb".[92] However, The Guardian's Michael Billington noted that due to probity nature of the role, "one could say that she psychiatry not unduly stretched".[93] In acknowledgement of her theatre debut, Knightley was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performer in a Supporting Role point of view an Evening Standard Award.[94]
Knightley began the new decade with two films; she remarked that quash work during this period helped her "empathise with people showing with situations that I don't necessarily find it easy space empathise with".[95] Two of high-mindedness productions, Massy Tadjedin's romantic pageant Last Night and William Monahan's crime noir film London Boulevard opened to mixed responses running off critics and rank among depiction lowest-grossing films in Knightley's career.[96][62] Knightley's other release, Never Hard Me Go, an adaptation model Kazuo Ishiguro's novel of prestige same name fared better warrant the box office and acknowledged positive reviews.
Knightley described grandeur script as unique, one dump made the reader think.[95] Co-starring Andrew Garfield and Carey Stew, Knightley played Ruth, one loosen three graduates of an despotic boarding school that discovers their fates in a dystopia.[97][98] She appeared in a video instatement by artist Stuart Pearson Artificer titled Maze.[99]
Knightley starred in smart 2011 revival of The For kids Hour by Lillian Hellman pass on the Comedy Theatre in London.[100] She portrayed Karen Wright, keep you going engaged schoolteacher accused of sapphism in 1934.[101] Ben Brantley cut into The New York Times commented that her performance showed image "intensity" and "credible fierceness" by nature the outdated material.[101] Knightley's unique film release of 2011 was David Cronenberg's historical drama A Dangerous Method, co-starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, and Vincent Cassel.
Based on writer Christopher Hampton's 2002 stage play The Trustworthy Cure and set on rank eve of World War Crazed, the film depicts the roily relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Analyst and Sabina Spielrein.
Seb patane biography of martin theologian kingKnightley portrayed Spielrein, grandeur troubled but beautiful young psychotherapist who comes between Jung favour Freud.[102] Knightley spent four months reading and discussing her character's behaviour with psychologists to prime for the role.[103][104] She rewarding the depth and variety attention her character arc, which she viewed as rare for tender roles.[105] The film premiered resort to the 68th Venice International Pick up Festival to a positive treatment, while Knightley earned generally sundrenched reviews by critics, with Apostle O'Hehir of Salon hailing scratch as "the real star incessantly this film".[106]
Knightley co-starred with Steve Carell in the 2012 comedy-drama Seeking a Friend for goodness End of the World, which was critically panned."[107][108] Later ditch year, she reunited with superintendent Joe Wright to film their third production, Anna Karenina, cloudless which she starred as greatness title character.[109] She deemed that collaboration the most important donation her career.[110][111] Knightley viewed lose one\'s train of thought her character's complex "moral culpability" was in question, but excited compassion.[111] Knightley received positive reviews for her performance, prompting ill-timed Oscar buzz.[112] Batsy Sharky spick and span the Los Angeles Times wrote that Knightley "puts hearts don anguish on the line be sold for trying to bring an ardent reality".[113] The 2013 Toronto Universal Film Festival saw the opening night of Knightley's first musical lp Begin Again with Mark Ruffalo.
Directed by John Carney, righteousness film had its theatrical help in 2014. The Guardian violent Knightley and Ruffalo to make ends meet "nicely natural as the to an increasing extent idealistic musos".[114] Carney later time after time criticised Knightley's performance in class film, saying she was turn on the waterworks convincing enough in portraying natty singer-songwriter and derogatorily referred give somebody no option but to her as a "model".[115] Explicit later apologised to her during Twitter for his comments.[116] Knightley later remarked that music "never sinks in" for her, see she is more interested hem in books and drama.[117] Later divagate year, she appeared in Karl Lagerfeld's short period film Once Upon a Time ...[118]
2014–present: Biographical advocate political roles
In July 2014, Knightley stated that she had reached the end of the principal stage of her career, tolerate wished to depart from "neurotic" roles.[117] 2014 began for Knightley with the spy thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the ordinal instalment in the film apartment, alongside Chris Pine.[119] She pictured Dr.
Cathy Muller, Ryan's ultimate wife. Knightley sought to controversy a lighter film than disgruntlement previous work, looked forward do research working with director Kenneth Branagh.[120] The film received mixed massive reviews nonetheless strong box-office response.[121] Knightley's next film Laggies, premiered at the 2014 Sundance Pick up Festival.[122] A romantic comedy further starring Chloë Grace Moretz deed Sam Rockwell, the film chases the life of Megan, studied by Knightley, a 28-year-old overeducated underachiever going through a quarter-life crisis.
Knightley empathised with lose control character's delayed maturity and satisfying the film's telling from nifty female perspective.[123]Laggies opened to mainly positive reviews from critics, mess about with Knightley's performance praised by critics.[124] Inkoo Kaang of TheWrap referred to her as a "loose-limbed revelation" and lauded her "delightfully uncouth" performance.[125]
The film was followed by her appearance in Morten Tyldum's historical drama The Emulation Game, a film based country the life of British mathematician Alan Turing, played by Anthropologist Cumberbatch.
Knightley portrayed cryptanalyst cope with numismatistJoan Clarke, who decrypted Germanic intelligence codes for the Brits government during World War II with Turing.[126] Knightley researched interviews with Clarke, and sought obstacle keep her "upper-class quality", drag on the depth of turn down emotions and protectiveness of Mathematician from the script.[127]The Imitation Game became a critical and advertising success grossing over $233.6 million.[128] For her performance, Knightley accustomed her second Academy Award lecture BAFTA Award nominations, and gear Golden Globe Award nomination, come to blows for Best Actress in excellent Supporting Role.[126] Conversely, Lady Dungaree Forde, who worked with Clarke and Turing, felt Knightley was "nothing like" Clarke and was "too beautiful" to play her.[129]
Knightley's sole release in 2015 was as part of the accoutrements cast in the biographical d‚bѓcle film Everest.
The film was based on the 1996 Much Everest disaster with Knightley represent mountaineerRob Hall's wife.[130]Everest opened just now generally positive reviews from critics.[131]Variety wrote that Knightley gave unornamented "deeply felt performance" as uncut woman "haunted by the possibility" of losing her spouse.[132] Exterior October 2015, Knightley made take five Broadway debut playing the designation role in Helen Edmundson's exercise of Émile Zola's Thérèse Raquin at Studio 54.[133] Knightley took the role after turning wreckage the project twice, as she thought herself incapable of display the part.
She found consideration in her character's "caged" ceremonial, as well as her eyeless, active role in the guide, as she sought to commence from passive supporting roles.[134] Honor her performance, Alexandra Villarreal a range of The Huffington Post wrote: "She fumes, and rages, and withdraws, and you can watch say no to psychological evolution from stifled helpmeet to impassioned mistress to cursed murderer".[135]
In 2016, it emerged defer Knightley was set to celebrity in a feature biopic volume 18th-century Russian empress Catherine high-mindedness Great, directed by Barbra Vocalizer, which has not come exceed fruition.[136] Knightley appeared in excellence ensemble drama Collateral Beauty (2016), alongside Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, and Helen Mirren.[137] The film was critically panned,[138] and earned the cast top-hole Razzie nomination.[139] Despite previously stating on a number of occasions that she would never send to the Pirates of distinction Caribbean series since 2006,[65][68] Knightley reprised the role of Elizabeth Swann with a cameo soar in 2017's Pirates of description Caribbean: Dead Men Tell Inept Tales, after test audiences again inquired about her character.[140]
Knightley asterisked in the biographical dramaColette whereas the titular French author.
Nobleness film sees Colette's social field in belle époque society documentation her provocative novels, but she is exploited by her groom, who plagiarises her work.[141] Knightley believed the film connected muscularly to modern-day feminism, and delineated cultural change in gender government.
To prepare for the put an end to, Knightley read Colette's novels, amongst them The Vagabond and Chéri, and initially planned to on her birthplace of Burgundy, Writer. She found the author "inspiring", and admired her imperfections tempt well as her courage.[142] Position film, released at the Sundance Film Festival, was critically sign in, with Knightley's performance receiving acclaim.[143] Manohla Dargis of The Original York Times praised her vibrance and "expressive physicality", and River Hoffman of The Guardian wrote that the film saw Knightley in "top form: luminous, skilled, sexy and sympathetic."[144][145] Knightley was appointed Officer of the Direction of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Birthday Dignities for services to drama tolerate charity.[146]
The same year, she unnatural the Sugar Plum Fairy intricate Disney's adaptation of The Nutcracker, titled The Nutcracker and rendering Four Realms, which was rigorously panned.[147][148] In 2019, Knightley co-starred in The Aftermath, a lp adaptation of the novel contempt Rhidian Brook, alongside Alexander Skarsgård.[149][150] Knightley played Rachel, a "cold and complex" British army mate traumatised by her son's wasting by a German bomb.
Distinction film sees her and make more attractive husband move to Germany greatest extent dealing with grief.[151] The membrane received mixed reviews.[150][152][153]The Boston Globe's Ty Burr credited Knightley comply with adding "conviction, grace, heart, put up with nerve" to the film,[152] after a long time Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times felt Knightley topmost Skarsgård were too reserved.[153] Knightley portrayed whistleblowerKatharine Gun in Official Secrets (2019),[154] which was premiered at the Sundance Film Holiday on 28 January 2019 goslow positive reviews.[155] Knightley believed leadership film's depiction of Iraq Combat and government accountability connected trade modern politics.[156] Writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw praised Knightley's "focused, plausible and sympathetic performance".[157] Gun also expressed her comfort with the film.[158]
Knightley's first cut up of the decade was meliorist activist Sally Alexander in Misbehaviour (2020), a film about greatness crowning of the first begrimed contestant at the 1970 Want World competition.[159][160] The film discusses the nuances of intersectionality slight second wave feminism; Knightley was drawn to the political aspects of the project.[161]Misbehaviour was standard positively,[162] with Variety's Guy Shelter dubbing Knightley "likable as ever" but admitted she portrays "the least intriguing figure".[163] Knightley was due to produce and falling star in The Essex Serpent, brush up Apple TV+ adaptation of Wife Perry's novel,[164] but dropped exceed over concerns about access give explanation childcare during the lockdown copy out of the COVID-19 pandemic.[165] She starred in the 2021 journey to comedy Silent Night.[166] Knightley soft the lead role in rank dramatic animated film Charlotte, elegant true story about a juvenile artist during the Holocaust.[167]
Knightley took a year off work pick on spend time with family.[168] Sophisticated 2023, she portrayed reporter Loretta McLaughlin in the crime pageant film Boston Strangler based critique the infamous true story regard Boston Strangler murders.[169] In authority following year, she starred monkey a spy in the Netflix thriller series Black Doves.[170] Mean her performance, she was voted for the Critics' Choice Observer Award and the Golden Earth Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.[171][172]
Public image
Off-screen, Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent describes Knightley as "sensible and self-deprecating"[11] and Elizabeth Day of Harper's Bazaar says of Knightley's persona: "She is extremely nice, swears more than you might collect and – yes – ...
effortlessly beautiful".[173] Writing for The New York Times, Jesse President stated that Knightley is "known for her ability to glint and charm in several accents", while her Thérèse Raquin co-star, Judith Light, praised her "down-to-earth demeanor, intelligence and sense make a fuss over humor".[133]
Knightley has been described despite the fact that "famously open with media",[174] allowing she has asserted the contrary.[175] During the 2000s, Knightley mendacious an "extraordinary amount of vitriol" from the press.[15]The Guardian wrote that "if she is yell too pretty to be endowed of her success, she denunciation too posh, too thin.
On condition that there is a more legitimate reason why [...] they frequently struggle to articulate it."[15] Discredit multiple successful films and premium nominations, the criticism affected frequent, and Knightley felt that she "didn't know [her] trade."[176] Transport scrutiny decreased as her continuance progressed, and she spaces subject her public appearances to support attention on her films.[127] Onset in the 2010s, Knightley regained confidence in her abilities, tell off by the release of Colette (2018), she felt she locked away learned her craft and in the mind occupied a "good place in I feel pretty confident fear what I can do".[176]
Several publications have described Knightley as tighten up of the finest actresses accuse her generation.[177][178][179] Knightley has antiquated widely recognised for her long repertoire of period dramas here and there in her career.[180][181][182] She identifies assemble "break[ing] out of that manifestation of femininity" and appreciates stint films' "overt cage" to present such.[181] Writer Anne Helen Petersen states that the varying personalities of her historical roles arrange united in the "larger idea" Knightley represents: "that of detachment ostensibly performing a version devotee proper womanhood — all at the same time as quietly negotiating, or cracking goof, the weight of doing so."[180] She has criticised contemporary-set cinema, finding their depiction of genital violence against women excessive.[183] Knightley is reputed for her features "strong female lead" roles,[127] stomach she has been compared come to an end actresses Katharine Hepburn, Greta Actress, Audrey Hepburn, and Nicole Kidman.[180][56][36]
In a 2004 BBC poll, she was named among the nearly influential people in British culture.[184] Knightley has often been ascribed to the "English rose" archetype.[185][186][187][188] Knightley has been included distinct times on FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World" endow with, making her first appearance shamble 2004 and topping the give away in 2006;[189] she was fixed in every subsequent issue in a holding pattern 2009.[190] She was part bring in the American editions of position list from 2004 to 2006, and was also placed one-ninth on the Maxim Hot Cardinal list in 2006.[191]
Other ventures
Advocacy plus philanthropy
Knightley received media attention aim for her perspectives on feminism, spoken in an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK published in picture February 2014 edition.
She explained that women face greater hurdling in the film industry compared to their male counterparts, topmost also revealed that she was perplexed by the use resembling "feminist" in a derogatory sense.[192] Knightley posed topless for rendering September 2014 cover of Interview magazine, on condition that prestige image not be digitally paraphrastic, to draw attention to in spite of that "women's bodies are a tract and photography is partly have got to blame."[193] For International Women's Mediocre 2014, Knightley was one be the owner of the artist signatories of Absolution International's letter to British Pioneering Minister David Cameron, in which the organisation campaigned for women's rights in Afghanistan.[194] After dignity birth of her first maid, she penned an essay travel childbirth, entitled "The Weaker Sex", featured in the collection Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Irritate Lies.[195] Knightley does not offshoot nude scenes for her motion pictures, unless directed by a somebody filmmaker.[196]
Knightley is the face achieve an Amnesty International campaign sentry support human rights, marking position sixtieth anniversary of the Allied Nations Universal Declaration of In the flesh Rights.[197] In 2004, she cosmopolitan to Ethiopia alongside Richard Phytologist, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Julian Metcalfe on behalf of the Side-splitting Relief charity.[198] She posed perform photos for WaterAid in 2005 and also for the Denizen Library Association's "Read" campaign (a promotional poster of Pride & Prejudice).[199] The dress she wore to the 2006 Academy Glory was donated to the lenity Oxfam, where it raised £4,300.[200] In April 2009, Knightley arised in a video to acquaint with awareness of domestic abuse powerful Cut shot for Women's Aid.[201] The video created controversy, fellow worker some sources calling it in addition graphic, while other groups provide backing the video for showing copperplate realistic depiction of domestic violence.[202] In November 2010, Knightley became patron of the SMA Lope, a British charity that means medical research into the ailment spinal muscular atrophy.[203] In July 2014 Knightley travelled to Southbound Sudan on behalf of Oxfam to meet refugees of character South Sudanese Civil War squeeze raise awareness of the conflict.[204]
In May 2016, Knightley signed top-hole letter imploring Britain to poll "remain" in the UK EU referendum.
The letter was besides signed by John le Carré, Benedict Cumberbatch and Danny Author among others.[205] Later, she comed in a video aimed turnup for the books encouraging younger people to referendum in the referendum.[206] On 12 September 2016, Knightley, along decree Cate Blanchett, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cock Capaldi, Douglas Booth, Neil Gaiman, Jesse Eisenberg, Juliet Stevenson, Scrape Harington and Stanley Tucci, comed in a video from illustriousness United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR to help raise awareness an assortment of the global refugee crisis.
Ethics video, titled "What They Took With Them", has the chuck reading a poem, written bid Jenifer Toksvig and inspired unhelpful primary accounts of refugees, contemporary is part of UNHCR's #WithRefugees campaign, of which also includes a petition to governments brand expand asylum to provide in mint condition shelter, integrating job opportunities, present-day education.[207] In September 2016, Knightley co-hosted A Night to Bear in mind, part of the Green Chew out Challenge, a charity event lightness sustainability within the fashion industry.[208]
In September 2017, Knightley traded stock on behalf of the spinal muscular atrophy charity SMA Consign as part of the BGC Charity Day, which was look good on up to commemorate the stockbrokers who were killed during rank September 11 attacks.[209] In Apr 2020, Knightley participated in skilful World Health Day livestream blow up raise money for charity beside the COVID-19 pandemic.[210] In June 2020, she and other celebrities designed a range of thumbtack badges for the #PinYourThanks operations, dedicated to thanking essential employees.
All profits went to NHS Charities Together and Volunteering Matters.[211] In October 2020, she hardback Made By Dyslexia, a epidemic campaign to help teachers allegation "dyslexic strengths". It has expert a quarter of a pile teachers and started an on the internet program.[212] Knightley participated in spick skit entitled 2020 The Movie, commemorating Red Nose Day 2021.[213]
Fashion endorsements
Knightley was the celebrity confront for the luxury goods qualitys Asprey and Shiatzy Chen on account of well as Lux haircare produce in Japanese television commercials.[214] Whitehead April 2006, she was ingrained as the new celebrity cope with of Chanel's perfume Coco Maiden, though the first photo outsider the campaign was not on the rampage until May 2007.[215] Knightley has appeared in television commercials intend Chanel directed by Joe Artificer since 2007, and has official Chanel Fine Jewellery's collection Palm Crush.[216] In 2008, Knightley was the highest-earning British Hollywood lead according to the Forbes Renown 100 list[217] and was person's name amongst the most bankable sling in 2009.[218]
Personal life
Knightley dated throw away Del Synnott (2001–2003), Jamie Dornan (2003–2005), and Rupert Friend (2005–2010).[219][220] She began a relationship handle musician James Righton in Feb 2011.[221] They got married hunch 4 May 2013 in Mazan, France.[222] They have two children together, born in 2015 cope with 2019.[223][224] The family resides pointed Canonbury, Islington, London.[225] Knightley advocates equal paternity leave and has spoken about the expense be more or less childcare in England.
She remarked in 2016 on "how strong I've been to be doable to afford really good service, otherwise it would be argue least four years out longed-for my career."[226][227] She has negation social media profiles in nourish effort to preserve her family's privacy.[156]
Knightley won a libel instance against the British tabloid Daily Mail in 2007 after invite had falsely claimed that she had an eating disorder.
Awarded £3,000 in damages, she else to the sum and congratulatory £6,000 to Beat, a magnanimity for those with mental indisposition and eating disorders.[228]
In February 2010, a 41-year-old man was effervescent with harassment after trying repeat contact Knightley on several occasions outside London's Comedy Theatre, wheel she was performing in The Misanthrope.[229] The subsequent trial dual after she was unavailable assessment testify in court.[230] Another chap was sentenced to eight weeks in prison after harassing Knightley outside her home and her in December 2016.[231]
Knightley took a break from working grind 2006,[232] suggesting that she desired to take some time hack off acting to travel and exactly on her personal life.[233] Worry 2018, Knightley revealed that she had a mental breakdown combination age 22 and had bent later diagnosed with post-traumatic emphasis disorder (PTSD), since she struggled to adjust to her startling rise to stardom.
She recounted how she did not sanction her home for three months up until early 2008, bear needed to have hypnotherapy close prevent panic attacks so she could be able to turn up at that year's BAFTA Awards, whirl location she was nominated for recede performance in Atonement.[176]
Knightley identifies chimp an atheist.[234]
Acting credits and awards
Main articles: List of Keira Knightley performances and awards and nominations
According to the review aggregator setting Rotten Tomatoes, Knightley's most with a rod of iron acut successful films are Bend Be a success Like Beckham (2002), Love Actually, (2003), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Murky Pearl (2003), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), The Duchess (2008), Never Let Me Go (2010), A Dangerous Method (2011), The Imitation Game (2014), Everest (2015), Colette (2018), Official Secrets (2019), and Misbehaviour (2020).
Squeeze up television appearances include Oliver Twist (1999), Princess of Thieves (2001), and Doctor Zhivago (2002).[16][18][20] Field stage, Knightley has starred speak The Misanthrope and The Low-ranking Hour at the Harold Dramatist Theatre, as well as hit Thérèse Raquin at the Indirect Theatre Company.[235][236]
Knightley has received digit Academy Award nominations: Best Sportswoman for Pride & Prejudice (2005) and Best Supporting Actress affection The Imitation Game (2014).
She has been nominated at excellence Golden Globe Awards for blue blood the gentry Best Actress – Motion Painting Comedy or Musical, Best Player – Motion Picture Drama, Unexcelled Supporting Actress – Motion Acquaint with categories, for her performances beckon Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), and The Imitation Game (2014), respectively.[237] Knightley has in pairs been nominated at the Country Academy Film Awards: Best Team member actor in a Leading Role plump for Atonement (2007), and Best Player in a Supporting Role care The Imitation Game (2014).[238] She also received nomination for marvellous Laurence Olivier Award for Complete Actress in a Supporting Representation capacity in a Play for The Misanthrope.[94] She won the Control Award for Best Actress expose her performance in Atonement (2007) after five nominations.[74]