Keira Knightleyhas starred in a huge variety of different films, from traditional romances to fantasy adventures, but she’s always provided interesting performances wherever she goes. The actress made her acting debut at the age of nine inA Village Affair, before landing her first mainstream role inStar Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace. This was the character that finally allowed her to break into the mainstream, and ever since then,Keira Knightley has made several great moviesthat cemented her as a generational talent.
AlthoughKiera Knightley is best known for her period pieces, the actress has made a real effort in recent years to break free of this stereotype and try some new styles that have resulted in some very surprising projects.She’s drifted away from the studio blockbuster style of filmmakingthat made her famous, turning her attention instead to more independent, creative films and series that really test her abilities as an actress. These have varied across multiple genres and really helped prove that she’s more than a romantic leading lady.
Love Actually
Cast
The 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually follows various couples as they explore their relationships throughout the Christmas season. With a star-studded cast composed of Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, and Martine McCutcheon, Love Actually has since become a Christmas staple for rom-com lovers.
Love Actuallyis often viewed as one ofthe greatest Christmas films ever made, and while it certainly has some flaws that are overlooked because of its nostalgic story, it’s still a great little rom-com that features one of Kiera Knightley’s most formative roles. In the movie, she plays the character of Juliet, a newlywed bride who catches the romantic attention of her husband’s best friend.It’s a very simple character on the surface, but Knightley brings just the right amount of charm and humanity to make this flawed figure much more likable.
Love Actually’s Iconic Scene Has Always Been Creepy To Keira Knightley: “Seems Like A Few Years Ago That Everybody Else Realized”
Love Actually star Keira Knightley admits she’s always found the iconic cue card scene a bit creepy and points out a key detail about her age.
As a whole,Love Actuallyis filled with charismatic writing and brilliant performances that make it an undeniable Christmas classic. The film is loved by both critics and audiences alike, benefiting from its holiday setting and getting rewatched time and time again during the festive season. The only thing holdingLove Actuallyback from being one of Knightley’s very-best projects is the lack of complexity to her character, and some aspects of the narrative that haven’t aged particularly well.
Never Let Me Go
Friends Kathy, Tommy and Ruth grow up together in what appears to be an idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. When they leave school and the horrible truth about the purpose of their lives is revealed, they must simultaneously confront their feelings of love, jealousy and betrayal, which threaten to end their friendship.
Never Let Me Gois based on Kazuo Ishiguru’s novel of the same name, and centers around a group of young teenagers who become friends at boarding school but soon learn that certain aspects of the world have been kept secret from them. It’s a fascinating, cerebral story that speaks thoughtfully on issues such as loneliness, identity, and the human need for companionship.
Knightley delivers one of her strongest performances inNever Let Me Go, and her character is undeniably one of the most interesting and multi-faceted that she’s ever played.
Knightley delivers one of her strongest performances inNever Let Me Go, and her character is undeniably one of the most interesting and multi-faceted that she’s ever played.Alex Garland’s philosophical screenplay gives the story such an emotional weightthat’s navigated expertly by these characters, making it a real hidden gem of Knightley’s catalog.
Anna Karenina
Keira Knightley stars as Anna Karenina in the 2012 movie adaptation of the 1877 novel by Leo Tolstoy. Directed by Joe Wright, the period film follows a tragic love affair between the title character and cavalry officer Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Jude Law appears as Karenin, Anna’s distant husband.
Keira Knightley’s several collaborations with Joe Wrighteasily constitute some of the actress’ most interesting projects, and whileAnna Kareninacertainly isn’t their best, it’s arguably their most overlooked.The film is a retelling of Leo Tolstoy’s book of the same name, which centers around a forbidden romance in the royal court of the Russian Empire.
What’s so impactful aboutAnna Kareninais its ability to remain so loyal and truthful to the source material while giving the story some necessary changes to make it work with modern audiences. It’s a story that’s doused from head to toe in rich history and culture, but it’s the very simple romance between the two protagonists that’s constantly held at the center of the narrative. This makes it a very emotional watch, and Knightley’s lead performance helps suck the audience in right away.
Black Doves
Black Doves is a suspenseful thriller released in December 2024. It follows a spy masquerading as a politician’s wife who, after discovering her lover’s murder, joins forces with an old assassin associate to uncover the truth and seek revenge.
Knightley is best known for her roles in film, but in recent years, she’s made several attempts to transition to television as well.Black Dovesis a great example of this.The six-part espionage thriller follows the story of a spy-for-hirewho learns that her identity may have been exposed after her lover’s death at the hands of a London crime organization, leading her on a dangerous quest to protect herself and retrieve old secrets.
Black Doves Season 1 Ending: Major Character’s Death & Sam’s Ultimate Decision Explained By Creator
Black Doves creator Joe Barton discusses season 1 ending with a major character death while explaining Sam’s ultimate decision in the final episode.
Black Dovesreceived excellent reviewswhen the first season was released on Netflix, leading to an immediate confirmation that a second season is on the way. The show is gripping, dark, and exciting in all the ways you’d expect from an espionage thriller, but what’s truly special about the project is the rich character work and dynamic relationships that let these interesting figures really take center stage.
Begin Again
Begin Again is a musical drama centered on Gretta, a rising songwriter who is left on her own after her boyfriend, Dave, abandons her. Her story transforms when Dan, a record label executive, discovers her innate musical talent, setting the stage for a creative partnership.
Begin Againis one of the very few musicals under Knightley’s belt, and it’s surprising that she hasn’t made more of an effort to return to the genre.The film centers around a young songwriter named Gretawhose heartbreak following a nasty breakup is resolved when a local record agent notices her and promises to make all her career dreams come true.
The film is much more than a typical romance and/or musical, but rather a singular project that combines elements of both genres to create something truly unique.
The film is much more than a typical romance and/or musical, but rather a singular project that combines elements of both genres to create something truly unique. The chemistry between Knightley and Mark Ruffalo is what really sells this project, ditching an intricate plot for a much more atmospheric tableau of ambition and romance.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the second installment in the swashbuckling franchise directed by Gore Verbinski. Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, who must settle a blood debt with the legendary Davy Jones, portrayed by Bill Nighy. As Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) are drawn into Jack’s perilous quest, they face new dangers on the high seas and encounter the fearsome Kraken.
Dead Man’s Chestis the second installment in Gore Verbinski’s hugely popularPirates of the Caribbeanfranchise.The story takes place shortly after the first film, following the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow and his new friends as they set out in search of the heart of the legendary Captain Davy Jones, which he believes can free him from his ongoing debt. However, the crew soon devise their own intentions for the treasure and begin to turn against each other.
Although it’s the best of thePirates of the Caribbeansequels,Dead Man’s Cheststill has some problemsthat would later become fatal for the future of the franchise: it’s overlong, it’s messy, and the story isn’t as succinct as the first. However, the movie has actually aged surprisingly well with the benefit of time and nostalgia - it’s a very ambitious project, and it’s the kind of overly adventurous movie that doesn’t really get made today.This makes it a unique entry in Knightley’s catalog, and one of the most fun to rewatch.
The Imitation Game
The Imitation Game stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the real-life British mathematician and computer scientist who was instrumental in decoding the German spy code machine Enigma during WWII. The film focuses on Turing’s work during the war and his personal life during that time, as well as the tragic story of his life after the war and his death in 1954. Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, and Mark Strong also star.
The Imitation Gameis a historical biopic that focuses on the life and work of Alan Turing, the British scientist responsible for cracking the Nazis’ enigma code during the Second World War. The film details his efforts to help the British cause despite his inability to fight in the military, building a machine with the help of his fellow mathematicians that would eventually turn the tide of the war from the shadows.
While it’s Benedict Cumberbatch’s lead performance that’s often remembered when discussingThe Imitation Game, Knightley’s turn as Joan Clarke also deserves immense praise.The film may be long and overly formulaic in parts, but it works best as a display of these two actors’ astounding ability to embody these historical figures and richly explore the role they played in the war.
Pride and Prejudiceis another prime example of Knightley’s compatibility with filmmaker Joe Wright, and one ofthe best period piece movies ever made.It’s a faithful and thematic adaptation of Jane Austen’s iconic novel, detailing the romance between protagonist Elizabeth Bennett and her unlikely suitor Mr. Darcy as she discovers her own place in a world that seems poised against her.
Keira Knightley became the third-youngest Best Actress nominee at the Academy Awards for her nomination forPride and Prejudice.
The difference betweenPride and Prejudiceand the countless other period pieces that came before it is this film’s unwavering romanticism; every frame of this project is directed with such care and intention, giving all scenes a warm, nostalgic haze to them. It’s one of Keira Knightley’s most beloved films by both critics and audiences alike, with 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and four Academy Award nominations to its name.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
Pirates of the Caribbean’s Elisabeth Swann is likely the role that Keira Knightley will always be remembered for, and that’s certainly not a bad thing.The Curse of the Black Pearlis a near-perfect adventure moviethat capitalizes on the genre’s tropes in a way that feels both familiar and new, taking audiences on a swashbuckling adventure that ushered in a whole new era of blockbuster filmmaking in the early 2000s.
What makes the originalPirates of the Caribbeanmovie so excellent is its dedication to style and atmosphere, crafting a fictional universe that feels so real thanks to all the captivating performances and detailed world-building. Knightley’s character is just one aspect of this, asJohnny Depp and Orlando Bloom also stand out among the extensive castas Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner.
Atonement
Atonement is a romance and war drama released in 2007 by director Joe Wright. The film stars Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, and Romola Garai. The film takes place in 1930s England, spanning multiple years afterward as a man is wrongfully incarcerated and then must face a war, all while wanting to get back to the girl he loves.
AlthoughAtonementis mostly remembered for its emotional ending,the entire film is a masterclass in how to create a compelling on-screen romancebetween two characters while letting the details of the narrative play out effortlessly in the background. The film centers around two lovers, played by James McAvoy andKeira Knightley, whose lives are destroyed when the latter’s jealous sister lies about their relationship.
Atonementis anything but a typical romance - there’s so much complexity and ambiguity to this story that makes it fascinating to watch, as nothing is ever quite what it seems with these characters. The only thing that’s assured is their love for each other, and that gives their dynamic an absorbing element that’s very rarely captured on film.
