Keira Knightley

Keira Christina Knightley (born 26 March 1985) is an English film and television actress. She began her career as a child actress, 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 since become a notable lead actress, having appeared in several Hollywood films and earning an Academy Award nomination for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.Knightley was born in Teddington, Middlesex, England to Sharman Macdonald, a Scottish actress turned award-winning playwright, and Will Knightley, an English theatre and television actor. She has an elder brother, Caleb, who was born in 1979. Knightley lived most of her life in Richmond, attending Teddington School and Esher College. Knightley has dyslexia, but nevertheless was successful in school and was thus permitted to acquire a talent agent and pursue an acting career. Knightley has noted that she was "single-minded about acting" during her childhood. She performed in a number of local amateur productions including After Juliet (written by her mother) and United States (written by her then drama teacher, Ian McShane).
Actress Keira Knightley has dismissed claims that she's the 'brightest star of her generation'. Instead, the 22-year-old actress, who's been nominated for a Golden Globe award believes she's "just lucky"."The thing with acting is it's not a job where, if you go to drama school, get the best grades and work the hardest, you're going to be successful," Contactmusic quoted her as saying. The Pirates of the Caribbean star said success in movies is a combination of talent and looks but also takes a lot of luck.“It has nothing to do with whether you're the best or the prettiest. It takes a lot of luck, "she added.Meanwhile, Keira is all set to don period costumes once again, for playing the 18th century English socialite Georgiana Spencer in her new movie The Duchess.