Keira Knightley

Full name: Keira Knightley Birthday: March 22, 1985 Birthplace: Teddington, England Parents: Will Knightley (actor) and Sharman Macdonald (actor turned author) Sibling: brother Caleb (born 1979) Height: 5'7" Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Weight: Unknown, most likely around 110 lbs. Lives In: Richmond, England Debut: Innocent Lies

Born to actor/playwright parents in Teddington, London, England, Keira (who is also sometimes credited as Kiera) Knightley was born on March 22, 1985. At three years old, she asked her mother for an agent, feeling jealous that she never received the same amount of calls that mum and dad did. At age six, the Knightleys agreed to let their daughter have an agent, provided that she'd study every day during summer holidays.       worked hard as a young one       This was no small feat for little Keira, who is dyslexic; however, she came through. Although her parents had envisioned a more secure career for their daughter, Keira started to get various acting jobs. Schooling at a nearby comprehensive establishment remained her focal point, but, little by little, acting as a career started to become a reality.    Pursuing artistic integrity and the satisfaction derived from playing different characters, Knightley's hard work paid off at an early age. European made-for-TV movies and shows started to dot her resume by the age of 11, but it was a stroke of luck that helped her along the way.       a big break in the stars       Thanks to hard work, and a close resemblance to star Natalie Portman, Knightley was cast as Portman's handmaiden in Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. Her small but memorable performance garnered her attention in Britain and the U.S. After the release of the film in 1999, Knightley landed a role in an Oliver Twist TV miniseries, portraying Rose Fleming.       more success, with a twist       After Star Wars and Oliver Twist, things got even better. In 2001, she starred in the successful British film The Hole, and spent three months in Slovakia and Prague filming a 2002 TV version of Dr. Zhivago, in which she played Lara, the same character Julie Christie played in the famous 1965 version. And this was all before her 18th birthday.       soccer flick a real kick       But is was her other project in 2002 that served as her breakthrough role. Knightley starred in Bend It Like Beckham, a hugely popular British comedy whose unexpected success has been likened to that of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. No longer an underground hit, the film is making it big in American box offices, thanks in large part to Knightley's fine acting.       hollywood on the horizon       The summer of 2003 will usher in the release of the Hollywood blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, with Knightley as the romantic lead. The romantic comedy Love Actually is slated to be released in November 2003 while King Arthur is set for a Christmas 2004 release -- which means Knightley will be stealing the spotlight for some time to come.    Barely into adulthood, this hot UK export has already won over fans across the Atlantic. The many diverse projects she has lined up prove that she is ready to take the world by storm, and we're waiting with open arms. For now, she keeps a level head and lives with her parents in Richmond, England. Hamarosan magyarul!!!