Keira Knightley has made several great movies that cemented her as a generational talent.

Although Kiera Knightley is best known for her period pieces, the actress has made a real effort in recent years to break free of this stereotype and try some new styles that have resulted in some very surprising projects. She’s drifted away from the studio blockbuster style of filmmaking that made her famous, turning her attention instead to more independent, creative films and series that really test her abilities as an actress. These have varied across multiple genres and really helped prove that she’s more than a romantic leading lady.

10 Love Actually (2003)

Directed By Richard Curtis

Love Actually is often viewed as one of the greatest Christmas films ever made, and while it certainly has some flaws that are overlooked because of its nostalgic story, it’s still a great little rom-com that features one of Kiera Knightley’s most formative roles. In the movie, she plays the character of Juliet, a newlywed bride who catches the romantic attention of her husband’s best friend. It’s a very simple character on the surface, but Knightley brings just the right amount of charm and humanity to make this flawed figure much more likable.

As a whole, Love Actually is filled with charismatic writing and brilliant performances that make it an undeniable Christmas classic. The film is loved by both critics and audiences alike, benefiting from its holiday setting and getting rewatched time and time again during the festive season. The only thing holding Love Actually back from being one of Knightley’s very-best projects is the lack of complexity to her character, and some aspects of the narrative that haven’t aged particularly well.

9 Never Let Me Go (2010)

Directed By Mark Romanek

Never Let Me Go is based on Kazuo Ishiguru’s novel of the same name, and centers around a group of young teenagers who become friends at boarding school but soon learn that certain aspects of the world have been kept secret from them. It’s a fascinating, cerebral story that speaks thoughtfully on issues such as loneliness, identity, and the human need for companionship.

Knightley delivers one of her strongest performances in Never Let Me Go, and her character is undeniably one of the most interesting and multi-faceted that she’s ever played.

Knightley delivers one of her strongest performances in Never Let Me Go, and her character is undeniably one of the most interesting and multi-faceted that she’s ever played. Alex Garland’s philosophical screenplay gives the story such an emotional weight that’s navigated expertly by these characters, making it a real hidden gem of Knightley’s catalog.

8 Anna Karenina (2012)

Directed By Joe Wright

Keira Knightley’s several collaborations with Joe Wright easily constitute some of the actress’ most interesting projects, and while Anna Karenina certainly isn’t their best, it’s arguably their most overlooked. The film is a retelling of Leo Tolstoy’s book of the same name, which centers around a forbidden romance in the royal court of the Russian Empire.

What’s so impactful about Anna Karenina is its ability to remain so loyal and truthful to the source material while giving the story some necessary changes to make it work with modern audiences. It’s a story that’s doused from head to toe in rich history and culture, but it’s the very simple romance between the two protagonists that’s constantly held at the center of the narrative. This makes it a very emotional watch, and Knightley’s lead performance helps suck the audience in right away.

7 Black Doves (2024)

Created By Joe Barton

Knightley is best known for her roles in film, but in recent years, she’s made several attempts to transition to television as well. Black Doves is a great example of this. The six-part espionage thriller follows the story of a spy-for-hire who learns that her identity may have been exposed after her lover’s death at the hands of a London crime organization, leading her on a dangerous quest to protect herself and retrieve old secrets.

Black Doves received excellent reviews when the first season was released on Netflix, leading to an immediate confirmation that a second season is on the way. The show is gripping, dark, and exciting in all the ways you’d expect from an espionage thriller, but what’s truly special about the project is the rich character work and dynamic relationships that let these interesting figures really take center stage.

6 Begin Again (2013)

Directed By John Carney

Begin Again is one of the very few musicals under Knightley’s belt, and it’s surprising that she hasn’t made more of an effort to return to the genre. The film centers around a young songwriter named Greta whose heartbreak following a nasty breakup is resolved when a local record agent notices her and promises to make all her career dreams come true.

The film is much more than a typical romance and/or musical, but rather a singular project that combines elements of both genres to create something truly unique.

The film is much more than a typical romance and/or musical, but rather a singular project that combines elements of both genres to create something truly unique. The chemistry between Knightley and Mark Ruffalo is what really sells this project, ditching an intricate plot for a much more atmospheric tableau of ambition and romance.

5 Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)

Directed By Gore Verkinski

Dead Man’s Chest is the second installment in Gore Verbinski’s hugely popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The story takes place shortly after the first film, following the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow and his new friends as they set out in search of the heart of the legendary Captain Davy Jones, which he believes can free him from his ongoing debt. However, the crew soon devise their own intentions for the treasure and begin to turn against each other.

Although it’s the best of the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, Dead Man’s Chest still has some problems that would later become fatal for the future of the franchise: it’s overlong, it’s messy, and the story isn’t as succinct as the first. However, the movie has actually aged surprisingly well with the benefit of time and nostalgia - it’s a very ambitious project, and it’s the kind of overly adventurous movie that doesn’t really get made today. This makes it a unique entry in Knightley’s catalog, and one of the most fun to rewatch.

4 The Imitation Game (2014)

Directed By Morten Tyldum

The Imitation Game is a historical biopic that focuses on the life and work of Alan Turing, the British scientist responsible for cracking the Nazis’ enigma code during the Second World War. The film details his efforts to help the British cause despite his inability to fight in the military, building a machine with the help of his fellow mathematicians that would eventually turn the tide of the war from the shadows.

While it’s Benedict Cumberbatch’s lead performance that’s often ed when discussing The Imitation Game, Knightley’s turn as Joan Clarke also deserves immense praise. The film may be long and overly formulaic in parts, but it works best as a display of these two actors’ astounding ability to embody these historical figures and richly explore the role they played in the war.

3 Pride And Prejudice (2005)

Directed By Joe Wright

Pride and Prejudice is another prime example of Knightley’s compatibility with filmmaker Joe Wright, and one of the best period piece movies ever made. It’s a faithful and thematic adaptation of Jane Austen’s iconic novel, detailing the romance between protagonist Elizabeth Bennett and her unlikely suitor Mr. Darcy as she discovers her own place in a world that seems poised against her.

Keira Knightley became the third-youngest Best Actress nominee at the Academy Awards for her nomination for Pride and Prejudice.

The difference between Pride and Prejudice and the countless other period pieces that came before it is this film’s unwavering romanticism; every frame of this project is directed with such care and intention, giving all scenes a warm, nostalgic haze to them. It’s one of Keira Knightley’s most beloved films by both critics and audiences alike, with 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and four Academy Award nominations to its name.

2 Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Directed By Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean’s Elisabeth Swann is likely the role that Keira Knightley will always be ed for, and that’s certainly not a bad thing. The Curse of the Black Pearl is a near-perfect adventure movie that capitalizes on the genre’s tropes in a way that feels both familiar and new, taking audiences on a swashbuckling adventure that ushered in a whole new era of blockbuster filmmaking in the early 2000s.

What makes the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie so excellent is its dedication to style and atmosphere, crafting a fictional universe that feels so real thanks to all the captivating performances and detailed world-building. Knightley’s character is just one aspect of this, as Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom also stand out among the extensive cast as Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner.

1 Atonement (2007)

Directed By Joe Wright

Although Atonement is mostly ed for its emotional ending, the entire film is a masterclass in how to create a compelling on-screen romance between two characters while letting the details of the narrative play out effortlessly in the background. The film centers around two lovers, played by James McAvoy and Keira Knightley, whose lives are destroyed when the latter’s jealous sister lies about their relationship.

Atonement is anything but a typical romance - there’s so much complexity and ambiguity to this story that makes it fascinating to watch, as nothing is ever quite what it seems with these characters. The only thing that’s assured is their love for each other, and that gives their dynamic an absorbing element that’s very rarely captured on film.