Despite the immediate association, Keira Knightley has long proven that she’s more than just a period drama mainstay. From kick-starting her career in young-adult flicks to commanding the screen in everything from sweeping romances to political thrillers, Knightley has built a filmography defined by range, thoughtfulness, and emotional nuance.
Indeed, whether her characters are wielding a sword or the powers of a pen, she brings a compelling mix of strength and sensitivity to every role. Audiences saw this most recently in the thrilling espionage show,Black Doves, where she kicks-ass as a spy-for-hire. But now that we’re stuck waiting for season two, it only seems right to look back at some of Knightley’s greatest hits. Her movies did define the 2000s, after all.
10’Colette' (2018)
Directed by Wash Westmoreland
Caught in a financial crisis, a struggling “literary entrepreneur” convinces his wife, Gabrielle Colette (Knightley), to ghostwrite a novel based on her school stories. While he initially rejects the draft, years later, upon more crushing debt, Willy (Dominic West) submits “Claudine à l’école” to be published under his byline. Much to their surprise, the novel becomes a bestseller, kick-starting Colette’s fight over creative ownership.
Knightley bringsnuance and magnetismto a woman constantly pushing against societal constraints. Whether challenging her husband’s control over her work or embracing her queerness in defiance of convention, Colette feels bold, sensual, and ahead of her time. In less capable hands, this film could’ve been just another lush period drama. But Knightley injects it with bite and sharp-eyed insight, with an emotionally rich performance that reframes history through the lens of female agency and creative autonomy.
9’Love Actually' (2003)
Directed by Richard Curtis
Set during the most festive time of the year, eight couples—all a mixed bag of ages—encounter love in their own special ways. From young love to unexpected love, forbidden love to complete and utter heartbreak,Love Actuallyshowcases the complexities of love being all around us. Sure, it may hurt from time to time, but love is the beating heart of life that no person can ever escape.
She may only be one thread in the tapestry of this holiday ensemble, but Knightley’s role is central tothis quintessential Christmas flick. Caught in a somewhat divisive love triangle between her newly-wedded husband and his best friend, Juliet is stuck in a very awkward position. But alas, at least her struggles gave us one of the most iconic rom-com moments in cinematic history. Even to this day,thatcue card scene reigns supreme and is frequently parodied across the pop culture sphere (no matter how problematic it might have been).
Love Actually
8’Anna Karenina' (2012)
Directed by Joe Wright
In 19th century St. Petersburg, Anna Karenina (Knightley), the aristocratic wife of an Imperial minister, travels to Moscow to help save her brother’s fracturing marriage. Along the way, she meets Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor Johnson), a dashing cavalry officer, and the two quickly engage in a torrid affair that sparks a huge scandal in high-society. The result: an ultimate, tragic tale of grief and heartache.
In Wright’s lavish and highly stylized adaptation ofLeo Tolstoy’s monster of a novel, Knightley takes one of literature’s most tragic women and makes her feel thrillingly modern. As Anna, she is passion incarnate, torn between duty and desire, motherhood and freedom. Knightley commands the space with poise and precision, walking the line between artifice and raw emotion, with the emotional toll of her choices expressed through every gesture and every breath. Sure, critics may have been divided over the film’s daring visual language, but few denied thatKnightley’s Anna was a mesmerizing force.
Anna Karenina
7’Official Secrets' (2019)
Directed by Gavin Hood
In the immediate lead up to the 2003 Iraq Invasion, Katherine Gun (Knightley)—a mid-level agent at Government Communications Headquarters—receives an internal memo revealing a joint US-UK illegal spy operation designed to strong-arm the UN Security Council into sanctioning the invasion. Furious about the deception, Katherine decides to leak the memo to the press.
In a role far removed from period drama spectacle, despite it being based on true events, Knightley delivers one of her most restrained and mature performances of her career. The film itself is taut and sober, and Knightley matches that tone with a controlled intensity. What sets her performance apart is its deep-rooted empathy, as Gun isn’t driven by ego or ambition, but by moral clarity that forces her to risk everything. The result is a portrait of quiet bravery, made all the more compelling by its emotional honesty.Official Secretsis not onlyan underrated political thriller, but an underrated addition to Knightley’s filmography.
Official Secrets
6’Begin Again' (2014)
Directed by John Carney
Having moved to New York to support her musical collaborator, who also happens to be her long-time boyfriend, Gretta James (Knightley) is understandably shaken when she discovers that said-boyfriend not only received a solo-record deal, but was also having an affair. Now, stuck in a state of limbo, Gretta fights her fears and performs her songs on stage at a bar. Little does she know, her performance has just captivated Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo), a once-famous music executive who may have just found the muse he’s been waiting for.
Showcasing a quieter side of her versatility, Knightley delivers a charmingly grounded performance that trades grand drama for subtle emotional arcs. Her chemistry with Ruffalo’s disheveled record exec createsa refreshing dynamic that avoids rom-com clichés, and instead highlights creative partnership and mutual healing. Knightly even does her own singing in the film, introducing audiences to soft, folksy vocals that help punctuate Gretta’s journey to rebuilding herself piece by piece. It’s an unexpected comfort film that not many people think to watch.
Begin Again
5’Bend it Like Beckham' (2002)
Directed by Gurinder Chadha
Despite her passion and skills, Jess Bhama (Parminder Nagra) is forbidden to pursue a career as a professional football player thanks to her very strict, traditional-minded parents. But luckily for her, on the day she decides to play for fun, Jess is seen by Jules Paxton (Knightley), who manages to convince Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Now, Jess must maneuver her way through elaborate excuses to hide her endeavors from her family.
While more commonly known for her roles in corsets and period settings, let’s not forget that Knightley’s breakout performance was funny, earnest, and undoubtedly scrappy. As the supportive best-friend and low-key queer-coded icon, Jules was effortlessly cool, stealing every scene with her shaggy haircut and Adidas kit. Yes, Nagra may have been the film’s emotional center, but Knightley brought her own quiet revolution to the story. Because in a time whenfemale-led sports movieswere few and far between,Bend it Like Beckhamproved that girls could fight for their dreams—on their own accord.
Bend It Like Beckham
4’The Imitation Game' (2014)
Directed by Morton Tyldum
Amid thedarkest days of World War II, Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a mathematical genius, joins a team of cryptographers tasked by the British government, on a top-secret mission, to crack the German Enigma code. Consumed by his determination to beat the numbers, Turing not only attempts to build a groundbreaking machine, but he must also come to terms with the struggles of his personal life.
Despite being the only woman in the main ensemble, much like the character she portrays, Knightley holds her own as Joan Clarke, the pioneering cryptanalyst. Mostly playing opposite Cumberbatch’s socially awkward and emotionally repressed Turing, Knightley’s Joan is warm, sharp, and quietly radical as she navigates the sexism of wartime Britain with grace and grit—becoming both a confidante and intellectual equal to Turing. Their scenes are especially touching, not necessarily romantic, but emotionally intimate and honest in nature. And for a film that is riddled with political tension, the emotional intimacy is a well-needed companion. No wonderthis earned Knightley her second Academy Award nomination.
The Imitation Game
3The Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise (2003-2007)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
Fictionalizing the Golden Age of Piracy, thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise follows the thrilling antics of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)—a drunken, often foolish, yet surprisingly brilliant pirate. Along the way, he garners a crew, some of which come from unexpected backgrounds, and they all face daring adventures while sailing across the sea, ready to face whatever enemy heads their way.
What could’ve been a thankless damsel-in-distress role quickly became one of the most dynamic arcs in a major film franchise. Across three films, Elizabeth Swan transforms from an aristocratic governor’s daughter to a formidable sword-wielding Pirate King. Indeed, Knightley bringscharm and convictionto every beat of Elizabeth’s evolution, making her rise to power feel earned rather than abrupt. Plus, her chemistry withOrlando Bloom’s Will Turner undeniably forms the romantic heart of the OG trilogy. But, like all good characters, Elizabeth is never defined by that relationship alone and holds her own amidall the swashbuckling chaos.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2’Atonement' (2007)
When Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan), a 13-year-old aspiring writer, witnesses her older sister, Cecilia (Knightley), and a servant’s son, Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), sharing a significant moment of tension, she greatly misinterprets the situation at hand. Coupled with a series of lies and half-truths, made amid the scorn of her own childish jealousy, Briony’s actions lead to irrevocable life changes for all parties involved—including the imprisonment of Robbie.
In her second collaboration with Wright, Knightley delivers one of her most haunting performances inAtonement.AsCelia, she exudes elegant restraint, mirroring the film’s carefully measured pacing—allowing its devastating arc to creep in with a quiet precision. Indeed, Celia becomes a symbol of everything lost—love, time, and possibility—and it’s Knightley’s ability to embody both steel and sorrow that makes the film so unforgettable (other than the tragedy of it all). Yes, Briony. We still haven’t forgiven you. But alas, at least through all the pain, we still havethat iconic green dressto look back at.
1’Pride and Prejudice' (2005)
Set in Georgian England, the Bennet sisters are dutifully raised by their parents, with an overbearing mother who instills that their life’s purpose is to marry a rich husband for the sake of supporting the family. Unfortunately for her, Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) is witty, strong-willed, and incredibly outspoken—traits that don’t necessarily align with “the respectable wife”. And yet, when Elizabeth meets Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), she appears to meet her match. Though, as we all know, their love takes a while to bloom thanks to their shared sense of pride.
Given howPride and Prejudiceshapedthe romantic ideals of an entire generation, it shouldn’t be surprising that many consider it as Knightley’s most quintessential film. She did earn an Oscar nomination (at 20 years old no less) and for good reason. Amid the sea ofJane Austenadaptations, Knightley’s Lizzie feels fresh, modern, and inherently relatable. Capturing her wit and stubbornness with nuance, she also made sure to highlight Lizzie’s vulnerability and emotional depth. But, of course, what makes this film even more special is her electrifying chemistry with Macfadyen. Sizzling with unspoken tension, every touch and every glance spoke a thousand words, culminating in one of the most cathartic romantic payoffs in recent cinema. Yes, this adaptation remains timeless—especially with Knightley as its radiant, beating heart.
