Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 198) is an English film actress and model. She began her career as a child and came to international prominence in 2003 after co-starring in the films Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Knightley has appeared in several Hollywood films and earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in Joe Wright’s 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. Two years later she again was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, as well as the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Atonement.
In 2008, Forbes claimed Knightley to be the second highest paid actress in Hollywood, having reportedly earned $32 million in 2007, making her the only non-American on the list of highest paid actresses.
Knightley made her West End debut in Martin Crimp’s version of Moliere’s comedy, The Misanthrope, at the Comedy Theater in London alongside Damian Lewis, Tara FitzGerald, and Dominic Rowan. in December 2009. Reviews for her portrayal of Jennifer in the play were generally positive.
The Daily Telegraph described her performance as revealing “both power and poignancy” and The Independent called her performance “not only strikingly convincing but, at times, rather thrilling in its satiric aplomb” The Guardian, however, noted that due to the nature of the role “one could say that she is not unduly stretched” and The Daily Mail described her as “little better than adequate”.
Knightley has been nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award as Best Supporting Actress as Jennifer in The Misanthrope, recognising her theater debut. Knightley also received for an Evening Standard Award nomination for the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress.
