Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley

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Biography

Keira Knightley (born 26.3.1985) is an English actress who initially rose to public recognition when she appeared in the feature film Bend It Like Beckham. Knightley now has several awards nominations to her name, including an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Childhood

Keira was born in Middlesex; the child of award winning Scottish playwright, Sharman Macdonald and Will Knightley, an English actor. Keira has one older brother, Caleb (b.1979).

Knightley attended Teddington School and Esher College. Although she has dyslexia, she was successful at school.

She acquired a talent agent and pursued an acting career, appearing in After Juliet, written by her mother and United States, which was written by Ian McShane: her drama teacher at the time.

Career

Keira Knightley appeared in a number of low-budget television films in the late 1990s before being cast as Sabe in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.

In 2001, she landed her first starring role, in a Walt Disney Productions TV movie, Princess of Thieves. She also appeared in The Hole, a film that went straight to video, as well as a mini-series adaptation of Doctor Zhivago. The series received several negative reviews, though the viewing figures were high.

Keira's breakthrough to mainstream success came with a role in Bend It Like Beckham. The film grossed $18 million in its UK release and $32 million in its US release.

As a boost to her profile, Knightley was then cast in the US blockbuster movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom also appeared in the film.

Her next major role was in the British film, Love Actually which was a success but her follow-up venture, King Arthur received very negative reviews.

In 2005 Knightley was heavily criticized for her American accent in The Jacket, starring Adrien Brody. Released later that same year, her next film, Domino, was her biggest commercial and critical failure to date.

Luckily, the year improved greatly with the release of Pride and Prejudice. Playing the film's heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, Keira received the best reviews of her career to date. Cast alongside many greatly respected actors - such as Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland and Dame Judi Dench, her acting style was compared to that of a young Audrey Hepburn. The film grossed more than $100 million worldwide, and earned her a Golden Globe nomination and an Oscar nomination. Knightley was later asked to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

In 2006, the Pirates. follow-up, Dead Man's Chest became Keira's biggest financial success to date.

In 2007, the actress appeared in a number of films: Silk, Atonement (an adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel) and another Pirates. film, At World's End. Knightley was nominated for a 'Best Dramatic Actress' Golden Globe as well as a BAFTA.

FHM magazine voted Keira the 79th sexiest Woman in the World in 2004. In 2005, she had risen to number 18 and by 2006 had reached the top of their list.

In April 2006, Chanel chose her as the new face of their 'Coco Mademoiselle' perfume.

Keira has frequently denied rumours that she is anorexic, though her family has a history of anorexia. She later sued the Daily Mail newspaper, which had accused her of lying about having anorexia and attributing the blame of a young girl's death (cause by anorexia) to Knightley's image.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

The Five Greatest Sports Movie Soundtracks Of All Time


Keira Knightley Blondie Fleetwood Mac Bruce Springsteen Public Enemy

As Europe is currently in the midst of a nail-biting UEFA European Football Championship, we’ve been in the mood for a few sporty flicks. One thing all our favourite movies have in common (despite our eclectic tastes) is that they’ve all got incredible soundtracks. And these five sports-based films are definitely no different. 

Bend It Like Beckham / Photo credit: LionsgateBend It Like Beckham / Photo credit: Lionsgate

Bend It Like Beckham

Continue reading: The Five Greatest Sports Movie Soundtracks Of All Time

Keira Knightley Has "Banned" Daughter Edie From Watching Some Disney Movies


Keira Knightley

Although she’s currently doing the rounds in promoting new Disney film The Nutcracker, Keira Knightley has revealed that she’s “banned” her three year old daughter from watching certain Disney movies because they lack feminist values.

Speaking on the Wednesday morning edition of ‘Ellen’, 33 year old Knightley told host Ellen DeGeneres that some of the Disney princess movies are out of bounds for three year old Edie, whom she shares with husband James Righton. Particularly failing her tests are Cinderella and The Little Mermaid, because the star believes they aren’t independent women.

Knightley told the talk show host: “She’s banned from watching Cinderella, as the film is about waiting around for a rich guy to rescue her – no, rescue yourself.”

Continue reading: Keira Knightley Has "Banned" Daughter Edie From Watching Some Disney Movies

Emma Watson, Keira Knightley And More Donate To Sexual Harassment Victims' Fund


Emma Watson Keira Knightley

A fund established by a number of British film stars including Emma Watson and Keira Knightley has donated more than a million pounds to various women’s groups across the UK, in response to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.

The Justice and Equality Fund was given financial backing by stars such as Knightley, former Harry Potter star Watson and new ‘Doctor Who’ star Jodie Whittaker, and has given money to seven different organisations that help women who have survived sexual abuse.

In the 12 months since the Harvey Weinstein allegations broke and the first #MeToo tweet was published, the Justice and Equality Fund has awarded £1,027,699 to women's organisations in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Continue reading: Emma Watson, Keira Knightley And More Donate To Sexual Harassment Victims' Fund

Keira Knightley Slams Depiction Of Female Characters In Modern Film


Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley has spoken out against what she regards as a trend of violence towards women in modern cinema, telling an interviewer that she usually opts for historical dramas over contemporary pieces because female characters “nearly always get raped” in the latter.

The 32 year old actress was speaking to Variety in a new interview about her preference for starring in films set in the past over modern-set productions, and said it’s because of the way that women are sometimes portrayed.

“I don’t really do films set in the modern day because the female characters nearly always get raped,” Knightley revealed. “I always find something distasteful in the way women are portrayed, whereas I’ve always found very inspiring characters offered to me in historical pieces.”

Continue reading: Keira Knightley Slams Depiction Of Female Characters In Modern Film

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Review

Weak

Subtitled Salazar's Revenge in the UK, this fifth film in the long-running series never quite gets its sea legs. With a waterlogged script and a startlingly murky production design, this is the first movie in the franchise that lacks a sense of swashbuckling merriment. It's lively enough to keep the audience watching, but it never quite makes any sense because any sensible details are lost amid the chaotic action sequences.

It opens with Henry (Brenton Thwaites), son of franchise veterans Will and Elizabeth (Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in cameos), who is on a quest to free his father from his watery imprisonment. For this he needs Poseidon's trident, which only Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) can find with his magical compass. Except that Jack has swapped the compass to buy some whiskey. Then Will meets the feisty Carina (Kaya Scodelario), who's star-reading skills will come in handy. But the vengeful Salazar (Javier Bardem) is also after the compass and the trident, hoping to reverse his own ghostly curse. And as things heat up, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) dives into the pursuit as well.

What follows is a series of set-pieces in which these various factions scuffle for control of people and artefacts that can lead them in their quests for power. They all talk incessantly about the elaborately complex mythology, but it never makes any sense why each person knows only fragments of the lore. And it's also not easy to hear what they're shouting amid the general chaos of yet another epically choreographed fight scene. Thankfully, the actors are hammy enough to stand out from the sea of digital effects that fill the screen.

Continue reading: Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Review

Keira Knightley at Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year awards held at Claridge's - London, United Kingdom - Monday 31st October 2016

Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley

Film Directors Defend Keira Knightley From 'Begin Again' Director's Criticisms


Keira Knightley

Movie-makers have rallied to British actress Keira Knightley’s defence after director John Carney criticised her technique in a recent interview.

Having worked together on the 2013 movie Begin Again, Carney described Knightley’s behaviour on set as “disenchanted” in an interview this week with The Independent, and said that he would “never make a film with supermodels again”.

Keira KnightleyKeira Knightley made her Broadway debut in 'Therese Raquin' in 2016

Continue reading: Film Directors Defend Keira Knightley From 'Begin Again' Director's Criticisms

Keira Knightley Makes Her Broadway Debut In Stunning Revenge Thriller 'Thérèse Raquin'


Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley has seen another milestone in her acting career by appearing on Broadway for the very first time in the stage adaptation of Emile Zola's 19th century story 'Thérèse Raquin'. Once again, she is in period dress covering familiar ground on unfamiliar soil.

Keira Knightley, Gabriel Ebert, Judith Light, Matt Ryan and David Patrick KellyThe cast of 'Thérèse Raquin' [L-R] Gabriel Ebert, Judith Light, Keira Knightley, Matt Ryan and David Patrick Kelly

Knightley appeared for her official Broadway debut at Studio 54 yesterday (October 29th 2015), playing the titular character in this romantic, vengeful thriller. This most recent adaptation of 'Thérèse Raquin' has been directed by Evan Cabnet, and stars - alongside Knightley - Gabriel Ebert, Judith Light, Matt Ryan and David Patrick Kelly.

Continue reading: Keira Knightley Makes Her Broadway Debut In Stunning Revenge Thriller 'Thérèse Raquin'

Keira Knightley - Opening night for Broadway play Therese Raquin at Studio 54 - Curtain Call. at Studio 54, - New York City, New York, United States - Thursday 29th October 2015

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley wearing Gucci - Opening night after party for Broadway play Therese Raquin at Studio 54 - Arrivals. at Studio 54, - New York City, New York, United States - Thursday 29th October 2015

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley's Broadway Performance Cancelled Due To Minor Injury


Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley’s first steps into the world of Broadway have been a bit wobbly – but that’s nothing to do with her actual performances. Firstly, a man interrupted her very first performance in ‘Therese Raquin’ by throwing flowers at the stage and proposing to marry her, and now another performance has had to be cancelled after she suffered a “minor injury”.

The performance at Studio 54 on the famous New York strip on Wednesday night (October 7th) had to be called off at short notice after Knightley, 30, suffered a small injury, the nature of which was not reported, according to the Associated Press. However, she is expected to have recovered in time for Thursday’s performance. The show is currently in its preview run, and is due to officially open on October 29th.

Keira KnightleyKeira Knightley out and about in the TriBeCa area of New York

Continue reading: Keira Knightley's Broadway Performance Cancelled Due To Minor Injury

Keira Knightley’s Broadway Debut Interrupted By A Man Proposing To Her


Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley’s Broadway debut was interrupted by a man who decided it was the perfect time to declare his undying love for her and propose marriage. Knightley was on stage on Thursday evening (1st October) making her Broadway debut at Studio 54 when the incident occurred.

Keira KnightleyKeira Knightley at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, February 2015.

Read More: Keira Knightley Reveals Her Baby Daughter's Name In New Interview.

Continue reading: Keira Knightley’s Broadway Debut Interrupted By A Man Proposing To Her

Everest Review

Good

With visually stunning imagery and a solid A-list cast, this film just about transcends its oddly uninvolving story. Based on true events, the scenes are harrowing and emotive, but spreading the story among an ensemble obscured by mountaineering gear and snowstorms makes it difficult to engage with anyone. And the plot-strands that do find emotional resonance feel like they've been manipulated.

In the early 1990s, companies began selling Everest expeditions to wealthy clients, and by the spring of 1996 there were 20 teams of climbers jostling for position on the slopes of the world's highest peak. Kiwi guide Rob (Jason Clarke) opts for a cautious approach with his team, which includes impatient Texan Beck (Josh Brolin), journalist Jon (Michael Kelly) and the nervous Doug (John Hawkes), who only just failed to reach the summit on his previous attempt. Rob's base camp manager Helen (Emily Watson) keeps everything running smoothly and, since the mountain is so overcrowded, Rob coordinates the climb with a rival guide (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his team. On the day of the final ascent, the skies are clear, but delays along the way and an approaching storm threaten the climbers.

Since the is a true story, it's clear from the start that some of these people won't make it home. And Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur lays on the emotion thickly, with an overly pushy-majestic score by Dario Marianelli and several sentimental phone calls home. Rob's wife is played by Keira Knightley, and you can almost hear the ominous chord when she reveals that she's pregnant. A bit subtler is Beck's interaction with his wife, played with insinuating bitterness by the always terrific Robin Wright. Meanwhile, Clarke's sensitive leader and Brolin's bullheaded alpha male contrast nicely with Gyllenhaal's cool dude, while Sam Worthington is almost lost in the shuffle as a friend who's climbing a neighbouring peak.

Continue reading: Everest Review

Keira Knightley - Pregnant Keira Knightley and her husband James Righton take a walk to a dry cleaners in London at islington - London, United Kingdom - Wednesday 25th February 2015

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley - 'Begin Again' photocall held at St Vincent House. - London, United Kingdom - Wednesday 2nd July 2014

Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley Quick Links

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Keira Knightley

Date of birth

26th March, 1985

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Female

Height

1.7


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Keira Knightley Movies

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Movie Review

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Movie Review

Subtitled Salazar's Revenge in the UK, this fifth film in the long-running series never quite...

Collateral Beauty Movie Review

Collateral Beauty Movie Review

Dramas exploring the nature of death and the true meaning of life are always in...

Collateral Beauty Trailer

Collateral Beauty Trailer

Love, time and death connect every single human being on earth, we long for love,...

Everest Movie Review

Everest Movie Review

With visually stunning imagery and a solid A-list cast, this film just about transcends its...

Everest Trailer

Everest Trailer

When two different climbing parties set out on the expedition of their lives, they knew...

Everest - Teaser Trailer

Everest - Teaser Trailer

Some people get a once in a lifetime chance to make history. Some people, unfortunately...

The Imitation Game Movie Review

The Imitation Game Movie Review

A biopic that plays out like a cerebral thriller, this film traces the life of...

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Say When [Laggies] Movie Review

Say When [Laggies] Movie Review

Keira Knightley continues to open up as an actress with this sparky comedy. As in...

The Imitation Game Trailer

The Imitation Game Trailer

It's World War II and things are looking bleak as the allies struggle to decipher...

The Imitation Game Trailer

The Imitation Game Trailer

Alan Turing is a mathematician whose genius leads him to be enlisted in a major...

Laggies Trailer

Laggies Trailer

Megan (Keira Knightley) is 28-years-old and she still hasn't got any sort of long term...

Begin Again Movie Review

Begin Again Movie Review

Fans of the Oscar-winning 2006 Irish film Once (and its more recent stage-musical adaptation) may...

Begin Again -  Clip Trailer

Begin Again - Clip Trailer

Gretta is a young singer-songwriter who takes to New York with her musician boyfriend Dave...

Begin Again Trailer

Begin Again Trailer

Dan Mulligan is a former record executive who has just been spectacularly dismissed by the...

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