Childhood and Education Journey of Keira Knightley in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Keira Knightley. From birth to education, explore key events.

Keira Knightley is a celebrated English actress recognized for her versatile performances in both independent films and major blockbusters, particularly excelling in period dramas. Her talent has earned her widespread critical acclaim, including nominations for two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, and four Golden Globes. In recognition of her contributions to drama and her philanthropic work, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2018.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

March 1985: Keira Knightley's Birth

Keira Christina Knightley was born in March 1985. At birth, there was a spelling error on her birth certificate where her name was supposed to be "Kira" but it was spelt as "Keira".

Others born on this day/year

March 1985: Birth of Keira Knightley

On March 26, 1985, Keira Christina Knightley was born in Teddington, London, to stage actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald. Her name was intended to be "Kira" after Soviet figure skater Kira Ivanova, but was misspelled on her birth certificate.

Others born on this day/year

2001: Dating Del Synnott

In 2001, Keira Knightley dated actor Del Synnott.

2003: Dating Del Synnott

In 2003, Keira Knightley stopped dating actor Del Synnott.

2004: Travel to Ethiopia with Comic Relief

In 2004, Keira Knightley travelled to Ethiopia alongside Richard Curtis, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Julian Metcalfe on behalf of the Comic Relief charity.

2005: Posing for WaterAid and American Library Association

In 2005, Keira Knightley posed for photos for WaterAid and also for the American Library Association's "Read" campaign for Pride & Prejudice.

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2005: Dating Jamie Dornan

In 2005, Keira Knightley stopped dating actor Jamie Dornan.

November 2006: Reported disinterest in Further Pirates Sequels

In November 2006, it was reported that Keira Knightley expressed disinterest in participating in any further Pirates of the Caribbean sequels.

2006: Break from Acting

In 2006, Keira Knightley took a break from working, stating her desire to travel and focus on her personal life.

2006: Donation of Academy Awards Dress to Oxfam

In 2006, the dress Keira Knightley wore to the Academy Awards was donated to the charity Oxfam, where it raised £4,300.

2007: Libel Case Win and Donation to Beat

In 2007, Keira Knightley won a libel case against the British tabloid Daily Mail after it falsely claimed that she had an eating disorder. She donated the awarded £3,000 plus an additional £3,000 to Beat, a charity for those with mental illness and eating disorders.

2008: Hypnotherapy and BAFTA Awards Attendance

In early 2008, Keira Knightley underwent hypnotherapy to prevent panic attacks, enabling her to attend that year's BAFTA Awards, where she was nominated for her performance in Atonement.

April 2009: Appearance in Domestic Abuse Awareness Video

In April 2009, Keira Knightley appeared in a video entitled Cut to raise awareness of domestic abuse for Women's Aid. This video stirred controversy.

February 2010: Harassment Charges Against Man

In February 2010, a 41-year-old man was charged with harassment after trying to contact Keira Knightley on several occasions outside London's Comedy Theatre.

November 2010: Patron of SMA Trust

In November 2010, Keira Knightley became patron of the SMA Trust, a British charity that funds medical research into the disease spinal muscular atrophy.

2010: Expressed Desire to Move On

By 2010, Keira Knightley, along with Orlando Bloom, had repeatedly stated their desire to move on from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

2010: Dating Rupert Friend

In 2010, Keira Knightley stopped dating actor Rupert Friend.

February 2011: Relationship with James Righton

In February 2011, Keira Knightley began a relationship with musician James Righton.

May 2013: Marriage to James Righton

On 4 May 2013, Keira Knightley married musician James Righton in Mazan, France.

February 2014: Feminist Perspectives in Harper's Bazaar UK

In February 2014, Keira Knightley received media attention for her perspectives on feminism, voiced in an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK. She discussed the hurdles women face in the film industry and her perplexity with the derogatory use of "feminist".

July 2014: Statement on Career Shift

In July 2014, Keira Knightley announced that she had reached the end of the first stage of her career and wanted to move away from "neurotic" roles. She sought to do a lighter film than her previous work.

July 2014: Travel to South Sudan with Oxfam

In July 2014, Keira Knightley travelled to South Sudan on behalf of Oxfam to meet refugees of the South Sudanese Civil War and raise awareness of the conflict.

September 2014: Topless Photoshoot for Interview Magazine

In September 2014, Keira Knightley posed topless for the cover of Interview magazine, stipulating that the image not be digitally altered, to highlight the issue of women's bodies as a battleground and photography's role in it.

2015: Birth of First Daughter

In 2015, Keira Knightley and James Righton had their first daughter.

May 2016: Signing Letter to Remain in the EU

In May 2016, Keira Knightley signed a letter imploring Britain to vote "remain" in the UK EU referendum alongside other notable figures.

September 2016: UNHCR Video Appearance and Green Carpet Challenge Hosting

In September 2016, Keira Knightley appeared in a UNHCR video to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis and co-hosted A Night to Remember, part of the Green Carpet Challenge, highlighting sustainability in fashion.

December 2016: Man Sentenced for Harassment and Stalking

In December 2016, another man was sentenced to eight weeks in prison after harassing Keira Knightley outside her home and stalking her.

2016: Remarks on Childcare Affordability

In 2016, Keira Knightley remarked on the expense of childcare in England and acknowledged her privilege in affording good childcare.

September 2017: BGC Charity Day Stock Trading

In September 2017, Keira Knightley traded stocks on behalf of the spinal muscular atrophy charity SMA Trust as part of the BGC Charity Day.

2018: Mental Breakdown and PTSD Diagnosis

In 2018, Keira Knightley revealed that she had a mental breakdown at age 22 and had been later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to struggling with her sudden fame.

2019: Birth of Second Daughter

In 2019, Keira Knightley and James Righton had their second daughter.

April 2020: World Health Day Livestream Participation

In April 2020, Keira Knightley participated in a World Health Day livestream to raise money for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020: #PinYourThanks Campaign Pin Badge Design

In June 2020, Keira Knightley and other celebrities designed a range of pin badges for the #PinYourThanks campaign, dedicated to thanking essential workers, with all profits going to NHS Charities Together and Volunteering Matters.