Keira Knightley

Name :Keira Knightley
Birth Date : March 22, 1983
Birth Place : Teddington, London, England, UK
Height : 5' 7
Profession : Actress
Nationality : British

She was born Kiera Knightley on the 22nd of March, 1985, in Teddington, south-west London. Her name would become Keira as her Hollywood career took off, the change shamelessly breaking the golden rule of "I before E except after C" but making the name more easily pronounceable on a worldwide basis. Her father was stage actor Will Knightley, who'd make the occasional foray into television, such as starring as Mr Glegg in the BBC's 1997 production of The Mill On The Floss. Her Ayrshire-born mother, Sharman MacDonald, had also been a stage and TV actress (she once appeared in Shoestring). Having joined the Drama Society at Edinburgh University in 1972, then worked as a go-go dancer to pay her Drama School fees, she'd battled against stage fright for 12 years. Eventually, pregnant with Keira and having borne son Caleb five years earlier (he'd go on to teach music to underprivileged kids), in 1984 she gave up acting and concentrated on her family.In the summer of 2001, while Keira studied and sat her final school exams (she received six As) she filmed a movie about an Asian girl's (Parminder Nagra) love for football and the prejudices she has to overcome regarding both her culture and her religion.) Bend It Like Beckham (2002) was a smash hit in football-mad Britain but it had to wait until another of Keira's films propelled it to the top end of the US box office. More than the older Ehle in the TV series, she catches Elizabeth's essential skittishness and youthful braggadocio, making her final conversion all the more moving." The film would gross more than $100 million worldwide and Keira would earn a Golden Globe nomination and an Oscar nomination. It was noted that Keira was snubbed by the BAFTAs- a move which drew criticism from Pride and Prejudice producer Tim Bevan. Keira would ultimately lose the Oscar to American actress ReeseShe was born Kiera Knightley on the 22nd of March, 1985, in Teddington, south-west London. Her name would become Keira as her Hollywood career took off, the change shamelessly breaking the golden rule of "I before E except after C" but making the name more easily pronounceable on a worldwide basis. Her father was stage actor Will Knightley, who'd make the occasional foray into television, such as starring as Mr Glegg in the BBC's 1997 production of The Mill On The Floss. Her Ayrshire-born mother, Sharman MacDonald, had also been a stage and TV actress (she once appeared in Shoestring). Having joined the Drama Society at Edinburgh University in 1972, then worked as a go-go dancer to pay her Drama School fees, she'd battled against stage fright for 12 years. Eventually, pregnant with Keira and having borne son Caleb five years earlier (he'd go on to teach music to underprivileged kids), in 1984 she gave up acting and concentrated on her family.In the summer of 2001, while Keira studied and sat her final school exams (she received six As) she filmed a movie about an Asian girl's (Parminder Nagra) love for football and the prejudices she has to overcome regarding both her culture and her religion.) Bend It Like Beckham (2002) was a smash hit in football-mad Britain but it had to wait until another of Keira's films propelled it to the top end of the US box office. Bend It cost just £3.5m to make, and nearly £1m of that came from the British Lottery. It took £11m in the UK and has since gone on to score more than US$76m worldwide. Meanwhile, Keira had started A-levels at Esher College, studying Classics, English Literature and Political History, but continued to take acting roles which she thought would widen her experience as an actress. The story of a drug-addicted waitress and her friendship with the young son of a drug-addict, Pure (2002), occupied Keira from January to March 2002. Also at this time, Keira's first attempt at Shakespeare was filmed. She played Helena in a modern interpretation of a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream entitled The Seasons Alter (2002). This was commissioned by environmental organisation Futerra, of which Keira's mother is patron. Keira received no fee for this performance, or for another short film, New Year's Eve (2002), by award-winning director Colin Spector.2005 would see the release of 3 films, the first of which was The Jacket. The complex thriller starring Adrien Brody was derided by critics as unoriginal, silly and messy, Witherspoon. Knightley, who currently lives in London, is engaged to her Pride and Prejudice co-star, Rupert Friend. She has previously dated Irish fashion model Jamie Dornan, as well as actor Del Synnott, who, according to some reports, attempted suicide after their relationship ended, although Synnott and Knightley deny these claims.She has denied rumors she is anorexic, although after her appearance at the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest premiere led to media speculation that her extremely slender figure was due to an eating disorder, she noted that her family has a history of anorexia. In July of 2006, Knightley said she has become a workaholic, detailing that "the last five years have blended into one. I can't tell you what was last year and what was the year before" and specifying that she is "working too much" and is "quite frightened that if I continue at this rate I will start to hate what I love." As a result, Knightley may take a one year break from acting to travel and focus on her personal life.Knightley is a lifelong supporter of football team West Ham United F.C., and watches games in her local pub whenever possible. She has said that her favourite book is War and Peace and her favourite film is All About Eve

Fact:
*In the Teen Choice Awards 2007, Keira won as Choice Movie Actress in an Action-Adventure for her performance in Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End.
*Keira was listed at #71 in Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100 of 2007. She ranked #9 in FHM Online's 100 Sexiest Women in the World of 2007, and was also #20 in Maxim's 2007 Hot 100 List.
*Keira appeared in the print ad for the Chanel fragrance Coco Mademoiselle. The ad features her naked and covering her chest with a bowler hat. Her modest cleavage was digitally enhanced in the ad.
*After a new book titled Diana and the Paparazzi, was at the centre of a bidding war at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, it was revealed that Keira was the front-runner to play Diana, Princess Of Wales in the movie adaptation on the late royal's life.
*In May 2007, Keira revealed she was hurt by recent allegations that her thin frame was promoting anorexia and she was considering quitting acting as a result.
*After the Daily Mail suggested Keira was anorexic and responsible for a teenager's death from the eating disorder, Keira filed a live suit. The case is expected to go to trial in London's High Court either late in 2007 or early in 2008, if it does not settle sooner.
*In January 2007, Keira found herself again fighting anorexia rumours when she was seen looking waif-like in a bikini on a recent Pacific Island holiday with boyfriend Rupert Friend.
*For her role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Keira said that in order for her to appear in it, she wanted to do a sword fight scene.

Filmography:
Atonement (2007)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Silk (2007)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Domino (2005)
Pride And Prejudice (2005)
The Jacket (2005)
King Arthur (2004)
Love Actually (2003)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
Gaijin (short, voice) (2003)
New Year's Eve (short) (2002)
The Seasons Alter (short) (2002)
Doctor Zhivago (TV miniseries) (2002)
Pure (2002)
Thunderpants (2002)
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Awards:
Empire Award (2004)
Category : Best British Actress
For : Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Nominated

VES Award (2004)
Category : Outstanding Performance by a Male or Female Actor in an Effects Film
For : Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Nominated

ALFS Award (2003)
Category : British Newcomer of the Year
For : Bend It Like Beckham
Won

MTV Movie Awards (2003)
Category : Best Trans-Atlantic Breakthrough Performer
Nominated

Golden Wave (2002)
Category : Best Actress
For : Bend It Like Beckham
Won