Keira Knightley biography, net worth, husband, kids, age, awards, height 2025

Biography of Keira Knightley

Keira Christina Knightley is a British actress who's made her mark in Hollywood, earning two Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nods. She's best known for her swashbuckling role in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, plus standout performances in "Bend It Like Beckham," "Pride & Prejudice," "A Dangerous Method," "Anna Karenina," and "Doctor Zhivago," among others. Net worth: $80 million.

Childhood and First Roles

Keira Knightley was born on March 26, 1985, in a London suburb to British actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald (who transitioned from acting to playwriting early in her career). They already had a son Caleb, who was born 6 years earlier.

When their daughter was born, Will wanted to name her Kira after famous Russian figure skater Kira Ivanova, but Sharman accidentally misspelled it as "Keira" on the birth certificate – and that's how the future star got her distinctive name.

Both parents immersed their children in theater from an early age – they'd attend plays together and even gave Keira and Caleb acting lessons at home. So it's no surprise that Keira was asking for her own agent by age three. She got one when she turned six, and by seven, she'd made her TV debut in "Royal Celebration." That was just the start – between 1991 and 1999, Keira racked up appearances in six British TV series and countless commercials.

Keira attended Stanley Junior School and, later, Teddington School in Richmond. At six, she was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disorder that makes reading and comprehending text difficult. With her parents' support, hard work, and specialized learning programs, she'd overcome these challenges by age 11. Soon she was earning straight A's and performing in amateur productions, including "After Juliet," a play written by her mother.

According to Keira, she was always determined to become an actress – and that unwavering focus definitely helped her achieve her dream.

Keira made her big-screen debut in 1999, playing Queen Padmé's decoy in George Lucas's blockbuster "Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace." Knightley landed the role thanks to her striking resemblance to Natalie Portman, who played Padmé. Legend has it that when both actresses appeared in full makeup, even their own mothers couldn't tell them apart.

Keira's first leading role was in a romantic adventure film "Princess of Thieves", released in 2001. She spent over a month training in horseback riding, archery, and fencing to prepare for the role. The actress simultaneously worked on the set of a psychological horror "The Hole" (2001), which, though not widely known, made a strong impression on indie film enthusiasts.

Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman look very much alike, although they aren't related

The critics noticed Keira after she played the role of Lara in a British miniseries "Doctor Zhivago" (2002), based on the novel of the same title by Boris Pasternak. Critics hailed the film as "a total success", noting "a dramatic dynamic, costumes and set design, which transport viewers to the perfect time and place".

Young Keira Knightley in "Doctor Zhivago"

That same year, "Pure" was released, starring Keira Knightley, Harry Eden, and Molly Parker. It was highly praised at the screenings of numerous international film festivals and critics noted that "although Knightley doesn't have half of Parker's acting talent, she delivered a remarkable performance in this role".

According to Zoomboola.com, in 2002, after graduating from high school, the rising star enrolled at Esher College in Surrey, where she focused on history, art, and English literature, but dropped out only a year later because she couldn't balance her studies with ongoing filming.

Worldwide Recognition

Keira Knightley's real breakthrough came with the romantic comedy sports film "Bend It Like Beckham" (2002), where she played a football-obsessed girl. Football superstar David Beckham also made a cameo appearance in the film. Keira and her co-star Parminder Nagra had to learn how to play football and underwent training with a top-level coach for several months when preparing for their roles.

Keira's next film was a massive commercial hit that finally brought her international recognition and A-list Hollywood status. The fantasy adventure "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003) cast her as the spirited Elizabeth Swann.

"Pirates of the Caribbean": Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann

For the first time, she got to work alongside established Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

The role that brought Keira Knightley her global fame

The film exceeded all expectations, instantly becoming iconic with a record-breaking box office of $654 million against a massive $140 million budget. "Pirates" earned multiple Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations and spawned four sequels.

From that point on, success followed Keira consistently. Her next project, the Christmas romantic comedy "Love Actually" (2003), proved equally successful. Keira starred alongside recognized and acclaimed British actors such as Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson (Keira's childhood idol), Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, and many others.

The actress slipped into period costume once again for the historical adventure "King Arthur" (2004), where she played Queen Guinevere. Despite an all-star cast (with Clive Owen as Arthur), critics dismissed the film as "stupid action lacking the spirit of the age." Still, "King Arthur" proved a box-office hit, and critics began noting Knightley's shift toward more serious dramatic roles.

After filming "Stories of Lost Souls," "The Jacket," and "Domino," Knightley landed one of her most significant roles – Elizabeth Bennet in the romantic drama "Pride & Prejudice," based on Jane Austen's beloved novel about love in Victorian society. The role held special meaning for Keira, who'd loved the book since childhood.

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth in "Pride & Prejudice"

Soon after this, she reprised her role as Elizabeth Swann in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels: "Dead Man's Chest" (2006) and "At World's End" (2007). The actress felt anxious – four years had passed since the first film's release, and she'd matured considerably. But the films' success was unprecedented – each installment grossed around a billion dollars, making "Pirates of the Caribbean" one of cinema's most successful franchises.

Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp on the set of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel

In 2007 Knightley had a leading role in a drama "Silk" and a war drama film "Atonement", in 2008 she starred in a period biopic "The Duchess" and drama "The Edge of Love", in 2010 – in the dystopian drama "Never Let Me Go".

Every one of these films would appeal to viewers who love movies with deeper meaning. In "Atonement", for example, where Keira's partner was James McAvoy, a story of two lovers separated by World War II and an unfortunate accident, is told.

Knightley's character in "The Duchess" is a noblewoman, trying to escape her "suffocating" marriage by running into the arms of strong emotions. And all the characters in "Never Let Me Go", are in fact clones, designed to become organ donors.

These dramatic roles helped Keira hone her craft. She returned to the stage for exactly that reason – performing in several plays at London's Comedy Theatre before making her Broadway debut.

Keira Knightley is also a theater actress

In 2011, Keira landed the role of a neurotic patient of Carl Gustav Jung (portrayed by Michael Fassbender) in David Cronenberg's historical psychological drama "A Dangerous Method." The film explores the strained relationship between Jung and another renowned founder of psychoanalysis – Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen).

The title character of Anna Karenina in the adaptation by Joe Wright was another significant role for Keira Knightley. She portrayed the female lead with subtle depth, powerfully conveying her character's drama in relationships with Karenin (Jude Law) and Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Critics praised her work highly, convinced that Keira had truly hit her stride as an actress.

Anna Karenina, portrayed by Keira Knightley

While audiences loved the film, Keira's next project brought even greater success – her first musical, "Begin Again" (2013) with Mark Ruffalo. Despite the movie being a box-office success (it grossed over $63 million with an $8 million budget), the director John Carney repeatedly brutally criticized the actress's performance. He said he was trying to make "a small personal movie and there was no place for the likes of Keira Knightley."

Keira's next project came in 2014 with the spy thriller "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," based on Tom Clancy's detective stories.

Keira Knightley at the premiere of "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit"

She also appeared in the indie romantic comedy "Laggies" (2014) alongside Chloë Grace Moretz and Sam Rockwell and then in the historical drama about WW2 "The Imitation Game" (2014). In the latter, Keira's co-star was the audience's beloved Benedict Cumberbatch, who played famous cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the man who cracked the Enigma codes for the British government and helped turn the tide of the war.

"The Imitation Game": Keira Knightley and Benedict Cumberbatch

In 2016 Keira was cast in a drama film "Collateral Beauty" with Will Smith, Edward Norton, and Kate Winslet. The film was savaged by critics who slammed its absurd script and clunky dialogue. The entire cast got a nomination for the Golden Raspberry Awards (a parodic award ceremony) for "Worst Screen Combo" – proving that even A-list talent can't save a doomed production.

2017 saw the release of the fifth installment in the beloved franchise – "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" (Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom did not take part in the previous one – "On Stranger Tides"). Critics weren't having it, calling the film a "pathetic attempt to revitalize a decaying franchise" – though audiences strongly disagreed.

Keira Knightley came back for the fifth installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean"

That same year, she landed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms", a fantasy film based on Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann's story of the same name. The film also starred Mackenzie Foy, Morgan Freeman, and Helen Mirren. Knightley went on to star opposite Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård in the 2018 drama "The Aftermath."

Another recent Keira's work is an anthology film "Berlin, I Love You" (a sequel to the film anthologies about different cities, which started in 2006), starring Helen Mirren, Mickey Rourke, Sophie Turner, Renée Zellweger, Orlando Bloom, Patrick Dempsey, and many others.

Keira Knightley at the International Day of Charity (2017)

Off-screen work and non-cinematic achievements

Like many of today's celebrities, Keira takes an active social stance. She's the face of international non-governmental organization Amnesty International, which focuses on human rights worldwide.

Keira Knightley often participates in aiding the residents of the third world countries

The actress also supports non-profit organization WaterAid, which works to provide clean drinking water to people worldwide, and has raised awareness for the American Library Association.

Keira regularly campaigns against domestic violence and helps raise funds for medical research and treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. Before the 2016 Brexit referendum, she recorded a video message appealing to her fellow citizens to vote against Britain's exit from the European Union.

Keira Knightley is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

In recent years, the actress has become increasingly interested in environmental awareness and refugee issues, partly due to the civil war in South Sudan.

Keira Knightley is a feminist who strongly believes that "feminism" shouldn't be used as a derogatory term or perceived as something negative, and that people should understand women deserve equal rights.

In 2004, a BBC poll named Keira Knightley one of the most influential people in British culture.

Keira Knightley and Danila Kozlovsky in a Coco Chanel ad

Keira Knightley has landed numerous advertising contracts with luxury brands and became the celebrity face of Chanel's perfume Coco Mademoiselle.

The actress continued her partnership with Chanel, representing their jewelry collection Coco Crush and even singing in French for one of the ads.

Keira Knightley's Personal Life

"I don't talk about my private life" – is the phrase Keira uses in almost every interview, although she discusses any other topic with the journalists quite freely, which gained her the reputation of an openhearted person.

She dated Irish actor Del Synnott from 2001 to 2003, whom she met during filming of "Princess of Thieves," and actor-musician Jamie Dornan from 2003 to 2005, who's famous for starring in the "Fifty Shades" franchise. In 2005, Keira began dating her "Pride & Prejudice" co-star Rupert Friend, but they broke up in 2010.

Jamie Dornan – one of Keira's ex-boyfriends

Knightley has been with James Righton, lead singer and keyboardist of indie band Klaxons, since February 2011. They were officially married on 4 May 2013. When asked about her decision to get married, she often says: "When James proposed, I thought to myself: that's never happened to me before, so why not? That should be an interesting experience." She planned to take her husband's last name but at the last moment "just couldn't make herself do it."

Pictured: Keira Knightley and James Righton

On 26 May 2015, Keira gave birth to a baby girl Edie. Keira, who was 30 at the time, felt like a natural mother from day one: "It's a different kind of love, primal and very deep. I've never felt anything like that." Without a doubt, Keira and James are very loving parents.

Keira Knightley with daughter and husband

In September 2018, Keira became a mother for the second time. The couple tried to keep the baby's gender and name private, but after a year Keira revealed that her younger child is a girl named Delilah.

Keira Knightley Now

The actress admits that childbirth and childcare have thrown her off balance. But she hasn't stepped away from her career. In 2019 she starred in the 'Official Secrets' spy drama.

Also, in 2020 she portrayed the main female character in 'Misbehaviour' comedy movie about England in the '70s.

Keira Knightley: latest news and articles

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Kyle Jordan Bryant

Feminine, softness and nobility! All of these helping her to play an historic characters and being very close to reality of the roles.

2021-05-18 08:30:50
Rosa Willis

I`m impressed by Keira is playing not only in the movies but also in a theatre, for me it`s a high level.

2021-05-15 08:08:18
John Sebastian Lee

Keira Knightley is incredibly natural looking in a historic outfits, she has a authentic nobility and a feeling of style.

2021-05-13 15:44:51
Martha Tran

That`s a pleasure that some of the modern actors are doing some stunts by themself. Keira Knightley is just right like that.

2021-03-27 21:53:17
Matthew Adrian Hughes

Incredible charming woman! Keira Knightley is very good in `Pirates` and Anna Karenina.

2021-02-26 16:34:32

Photos: Keira Knightley