Keira Christina Knightley born March 26 1985 is an English actress She has starred in both independent films and bigbudget blockbusters and is particularly noted for her roles in period dramas Her accolades include two Empire Awards and nominations for two Academy Awards three British Academy Film Awards three Golden Globe Awards one Screen Actors Guild Award and one Laurence Olivier Award Knightley was appointed an OBE in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity Born in London to actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald Knightley obtained an agent at age six and initially worked commercials and television films She appeared as Sabé Padmé Amidalas handmaiden in science fiction blockbuster Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace 1999 Knightley had a breakthrough role portraying a tomboy footballer in the sports film Bend It Like Beckham 2002 She achieved global stardom with her portrayal of Elizabeth Swann in fantasy swashbuckler series Pirates of the Caribbean In the same year she appeared in the Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually 2003 and was labelled a promising teen star For her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the period romance Pride Prejudice 2005 Knightley was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress At age 20 she became the thirdyoungest Best Actress nominee at the time Knightley starred in a series of further period pieces portraying a complex love interest in Atonement 2007 tastemaker Georgiana Cavendish in The Duchess 2008 and the titular socialite in Anna Karenina 2012 She then forayed into contemporary dramas appearing as an aspiring musician in Begin Again 2013 and a medical student in Jack Ryan Shadow Recruit 2014 Knightley returned to historical films by playing cryptoanalyst Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game 2014 earning her a second round of Academy Award and BAFTA nominations and starred as the eponymous belle époque writer in Colette 2018 to critical acclaim On stage Knightley has appeared in two West End productions The Misanthrope in 2009 which earned her an Olivier Award nomination and The Childrens Hour in 2011 She also starred as the eponymous heroine in the 2015 Broadway production of Thérèse Raquin Knightley is known for her outspoken stance on social issues and has worked extensively with Amnesty International Oxfam and Comic Relief She is married to musician James Righton with whom she has two daughters
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