Known for her work in independent films and blockbusters , particularly period dramas , she has received numerous accolades , including nominations for two Academy Awards , two British Academy Film Awards , four Golden Globes , and a Laurence Olivier Award.
Born in London to actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald , Knightley obtained an agent at age six and initially worked in commercials and television films. She achieved global recognition for playing Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series — She starred in several more period films over the next few years, including Atonement , The Duchess , A Dangerous Method , and Anna Karenina She has since starred as the title character in Colette , journalist Loretta McLaughlin in Boston Strangler , and a spy in the thriller series Black Doves Knightley is known for her outspoken stance on social issues and has worked extensively with Amnesty International , Oxfam , and Comic Relief.
She is married to musician James Righton , with whom she has two daughters. Knightley's parents encountered substantial financial difficulties following the birth of her brother; [ 6 ] her father, a "middling" actor, agreed to a second child only if her mother sold a script first. However, her parents' varying degrees of success did not deter Knightley's curiosity about the profession. Knightley attended Teddington School.
She is still a slow reader and cannot read out loud. This led to her taking a number of small parts in television dramas. Knightley began studying her A-Levels at Esher College , but left after a year to pursue an acting career.
After obtaining an agent at age six, Knightley began working in commercials and small television roles. Her first onscreen appearance was in the Screen One television episode titled "Royal Celebration".
