Career
She started to follow in her parents' footsteps at an early stage, making her film debut at the age of nine in A Village Affair (1994). Her first major theatrical appearance was as Sabé, Padmé Amidala's decoy in the 1999 release Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Knightley was cast because of her close resemblance to Natalie Portman, who played Padmé. Her first major starring role was as the daughter of Robin Hood in a made-for-TV Walt Disney Productions feature, Princess of Thieves, first telecast in 2001.
Knightley is best known for her breakthrough roles in Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Bend It Like Beckham was especially physically demanding for Knightley in terms of the intense football training she underwent but opened the way for her into Hollywood. Her role in the blockbuster Pirates cemented her up-and-coming position in international cinema.
In 2004 Knightley appeared in the blockbuster King Arthur, which, although criticised for its numerous historical inaccuracies, was praised by critic Roger Ebert for "the considerable production qualities and the charisma of the actors, who bring more interest to the characters than they deserve", Knightley being described as looking "simultaneously sexy and muddy" fitting in with the current vogue for strong female action heroes (something which Knightley repeated in a modern setting in the 2005 film Domino). Knightley's dedication to developing herself as an actress rather than a movie star was noted by Time magazine in a 2004 feature. In July 2004, Knightley was voted by readers of Hello! magazine as the movie industry's most promising teen star. Additionally, Knightley was voted the sexiest movie star of all time by the readers of Empire magazine, leaving behind other stars such as Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot.
Beside acting, Knightley is currently modelling for Asprey, a British luxury items company. She is trained in dancing and is a supporter of West Ham United football team.
In 2005 Knightley starred in the title role of Tony Scott's film Domino inspired by the life of his friend Domino Harvey, a British born model-turned- L.A. bounty hunter who died in July 2005 of an overdose aged 35. Ebert commented that, although the movie is "fractured and maddening" it is also "alive", praising Knightley for her ability to play a diversity of roles. In contrast to Knightley's role in the same year of the regency Englishwoman Elizabeth Bennett in a film adaption of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with Donald Sutherland and Matthew Macfadyen. Recently opening at No.1 in the UK box office, it is her sixth film to do so in her career.
She is currently filming the sequels to the immensely popular Pirates of the Caribbean series, due for release in the summers of 2006 and 2007 respectively. She recently ended her relationship with Irish model Jamie Dornan. She has been awarded Personality Of The Year 2005 by Variety UK, and is widely tipped for either a Golden Globe or Academy Award nomination in 2006 for her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean 3 | Elizabeth Swann |
| 2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | Elizabeth Swann |
| 2005 | Kingdom Hearts 2 | Elizabeth Swann (voice) |
| 2005 | Pride and Prejudice | Elizabeth Bennet |
| 2005 | Domino | Domino Harvey |
| 2005 | The Jacket | Jackie |
| 2004 | King Arthur | Guinevere |
| 2003 | Love Actually | Juliet |
| 2003 | Gaijin | Kate |
| 2003 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl | Elizabeth Swann |
| 2002 | The Seasons Alter | Helena |
| 2002 | Doctor Zhivago | Lara Antipova (née Guishar) |
| 2002 | Pure | Louise |
| 2002 | Thunderpants | Music School Student |
| 2002 | Bend It Like Beckham | Juliette 'Jules' Paxton |
| 2002 | New Year's Eve | Leah |
| 2001 | Deflation | Jogger |
| 2001 | The Hole | Frances 'Frankie' Almond-Smith |
| 2001 | Princess of Thieves | Gwyn Hood |
| 1999 | Oliver Twist | Rose Fleming |
| 1999 | Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace | Sabé |
| 1998 | Coming Home | Young Judith Dunbar |
| 1996 | Treasure Seekers | The Princess |
| 1995 | Innocent Lies | Young Celia |
| 1994 | A Village Affair | Natasha Jordan |
| 1993 | Royal Celebration | Little Girl |