Keira Knightley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keira Knightley
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Knightley at the 2011 Venice International Film Festival
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| Born |
Keira Christina Knightley
26 March 1985 Teddington, London, England
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse(s) |
James Righton (m. 2013)
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| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) |
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Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985 is an English actress. She has worked in both the British and American film industries, and has starred in Broadway and West End theatre productions.
She has received an Empire Award and multiple nominations for British Academy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.
Early life
Keira Christina Knightley was born in Teddington, London, to theatre actors Sharman Macdonald and Will Knightley. Her mother is of Scottish and Welsh descent, while her father is English. Knightley has an elder brother. Her mother also worked as a playwright after her career as an actress came to an end. She introduced her children to theatre and ballet at an early age. This furthered Knightley's interest in acting.
Knightley attended Teddington School. At the age of six, she was diagnosed with dyslexia but by the time she was eleven, with her parents' support and much tuition she got over it sufficiently. She is still a slow reader and cannot read out loud.
Knightley was single-minded about acting during her childhood. At the age of three Knightley expressed the desire for an agent like her parents', she eventually got one at age six. This led to her taking a number of small parts in TV dramas throughout her childhood. While growing up, Knightley performed in a number of local amateur productions written by her mother and her drama teacher. She focused on art, history, and English literature while studying at the Esher College, but left after a year to pursue an acting career.
Personal life
Knightley has been in a relationship with musician James Righton, of Klaxons, since February 2011. They were married on 4 May 2013, in Mazan, Vaucluse. The couple have a daughter born in 2015. Knightley advocates equal paternity leave and has spoken about the expense of childcare in England.
In October 2018, Keira Knightley revealed she had a mental breakdown at 22 and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as she struggled to adjust to her sudden rise to fame. Knightley described how at one point she did not leave the house for three months. In 2008 Knightley had to have hypnotherapy to prevent panic attacks in order to be able to attend that year's BAFTAS.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1995 | Innocent Lies | Young Celia | |
| 1996 | The Treasure Seekers | The Princess | |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Sabé (Decoy Queen) | credited as Kiera Knightley |
| 2001 | Deflation | Jogger | Short film |
| The Hole | Frances "Frankie" Almond Smith | ||
| Princess of Thieves | Gwyn | ||
| 2002 | Thunderpants | Music school student | Uncredited |
| Pure | Louise | ||
| Bend It Like Beckham | Juliette "Jules" Paxton | ||
| New Year's Eve | Leah | Short film | |
| The Seasons Alter | Helena | Short film | |
| 2003 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl | Elizabeth Swann | |
| Love Actually | Juliet | ||
| Gaijin | Kate (voice only) | Short film | |
| 2004 | King Arthur | Guinevere | |
| 2005 | The Jacket | Jackie | |
| Domino | Domino Harvey | ||
| Pride & Prejudice | Elizabeth Bennet | ||
| 2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Elizabeth Swann | |
| 2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | ||
| Atonement | Cecilia Tallis | ||
| Silk | Hélène Joncour | ||
| 2008 | The Edge of Love | Vera Phillips | |
| The Duchess | Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire | ||
| 2009 | The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers | The Fairy | Short film |
| 2010 | Never Let Me Go | Ruth C. | |
| Maze | Constance | Video installation | |
| Last Night | Joanna Reed | ||
| Steve | Woman | Short film | |
| London Boulevard | Charlotte | ||
| 2011 | A Dangerous Method | Sabina Spielrein | |
| 2012 | Seeking a Friend for the End of the World | Penelope Lockhart | |
| Anna Karenina | Anna Arkadyevna Karenina | ||
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time... | Gabrielle Chanel | Short film |
| Begin Again | Gretta | ||
| 2014 | Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit | Cathy Muller | |
| Laggies | Megan | ||
| The Imitation Game | Joan Clarke | ||
| 2015 | Everest | Jan Hall | |
| 2016 | Collateral Beauty | Amy | |
| 2017 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales | Elizabeth Swann-Turner | |
| 2018 | Colette | Colette | |
| The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | Sugar Plum Fairy | ||
| 2019 | Official Secrets | Katharine Gun | |
| Berlin, I Love You | Post-production | ||
| The Aftermath | Rachael Morgan | Post-production | |
| TBA | Misbehaviour | Sally Alexander | Post-production |
Images for kids
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Knightley at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Knightley at the BAFTA Awards 2008
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Knightley at the Anna Karenina world premiere in London 2012
