Keira Knightley was born into an acting family, so it is no surprise that her career began at a very early age. Since then she has acted in dozens of films dabbling in many genres.
Keira Knightley
She has gone on to become one of the big screen's most famous and recognisable faces - not to mention that she has been hugely successful.
As we look forward to Keira's latest offering Say When, this feature will offer a glimpse into a few of the on screen looks she has donned in her career.
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Okay so she didn't play a HUGE part in the film, but her on screen look was definitely something out of the ordinary.
She was cast for her uncanny resemblance to Natalie Portman at the time, and played the decoy to Portman's Queen Amidala (which we guess IS an important role, just not a big one). It's not every day someone gets to wear alien attire and eccentric makeup.
- Bend It Like Beckham
An early breakthrough role before her blockbuster success with Pirates of the Caribbean, Knightley co-starred in the film about Jess (Parminder Nagra), the daughter of a very traditional Indian family in London who just wants to chase her dream of playing football.
Keira plays Jules, the tomboyish striker of an all-girl team that Jess ends up joining. Decked out with a shorter haircut, trainers and sports bras, we see an athletic side to Keira; though there is her fabulous night club ensemble as well.
- Pirates of the Caribbean
The role that thrust Knightley into stardom was in the immensely successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
She plays Elizabeth Swann, the daughter of a Governor in the 18th Century whose life becomes entangled with pirates and mythology.
Beginning as a very proper, well groomed upper-class lady who wears the all the latest fashion, she slowly has a style transformation into a fierce swashbuckling pirate.
- Pride & Prejudice
Taking another dive into the 18th Century, Knightley starred as the beloved literary figure Elizabeth Bennet in the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
Though the story is supposed to have taken place in the early 19th Century, the director decided to go late 18th to add some differentiation from the other adaptations.
In comparison to her high fashion garb of the same decade in Pirates, here her character Elizabeth wore more 'average' clothing, favouring practicality and earthy tones over fashionability.
On screen she has a much more natural look, seemingly the perfect balance between tomboy and beauty queen.
- Domino
Keira's on screen looks took a rugged turn when she took on the role of Domino Harvey for the film Domino.
Based on the life of Domino Harvey, the daughter of Laurence Harvey, who quit the modelling business and became a bounty hunter, the role was a stark contrast to many of her other films up to this date.
Decked out in mostly leather, and sporting a chopped do, her rocker-edge style was not to be trifled with, much like her character.
- Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World
In one of the more interesting 'apocalyptic' films that has been released as of late, Knightley portrayed Penny Lockhart, an eccentric British woman living in America with her lowlife musician boyfriend.
Penny's style very much reflects her free-spirited nature, and Knightley seemed right at home in the deglamorized attire.
- The Imitation Game
Going back in time again, Knightley travels back to the start of WWII in The Imitation Game.
She plays the brilliant Joan Clarke, a code-breaker who works alongside Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to break the German Enigma Code.
Dressed in her smartest period clothing and paired with her fresh face and polished hair, she brings elegance to a male dominated ensemble.
- Say When
In her newest film, Knightley plays Megan, a 28-year-old woman who is in the midst of having a quarter-life crisis.
Channelling her inner child throughout the movie, Knightley's look is the epitome of twenty-something year old fashion.
Alternating between going out clothes to 'yes I slept in these and haven't showered' garb, this is possibly her most relatable and down to earth role to date.
Say When is released 7th November.
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