The accolades stood in stark contrast to the harsh reviews she received for reprising her role as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates sequel
Keira Knightley has opened up about the whirlwind of emotions she experienced in 2006, a year that saw her earn critical acclaim and sharp criticism in equal measure — leaving the then-21-year-old actress grappling with a confusing public image.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Knightley reflected on the paradox of receiving her first Academy Award nomination for Pride & Prejudice while being panned for her performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, which was released around the same time.
“Yes, it was pretty big for my career. If people come up to me, it’ll be about that one,” Knightley said of her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the 2005 adaptation of the Jane Austen classic. The role earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 78th Academy Awards, making her the third-youngest nominee in that category at the time.
However, the accolades stood in stark contrast to the harsh reviews she received for reprising her role as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates sequel. Despite the film’s commercial success, critics were less kind to Knightley’s performance, and she became the subject of widespread skepticism regarding her acting abilities.
“Pirates of the Caribbean had already come out, but I think in the public consciousness, I was seen as a terrible actress,” Knightley admitted. “But I had this phenomenally big success with Pirates. And I think this [Pride & Prejudice] was the first one that was a phenomenally big success but was also critically acclaimed.”
The juxtaposition of public reception left her reeling: “I remember it coming out maybe the same year, maybe around the same time as Pirates 2. And I got the worst reviews ever for that, and then also being nominated for an Oscar at the same time—it was, in my 21-year-old head, quite confusing.”
Knightley, who first gained international recognition with her role as a spirited footballer in Bend It Like Beckham (2002), has since built a diverse portfolio across period dramas, biopics, and thrillers. Over the years, she has received two Oscar nominations — for Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game — in addition to nods from the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and the Olivier Awards.
The Joe Wright-directed Pride & Prejudice has gone on to become a fan-favorite period film, earning cult status for its grounded realism and stylized storytelling. In April this year, the film was re-released in select theaters to celebrate its 20th anniversary, prompting a fresh wave of appreciation for Knightley’s performance as the sharp-witted and independent Elizabeth Bennet.
Now in her late thirties, Knightley appears to view that formative year with clarity and grace. The emotional whiplash of 2006, once bewildering, has become a marker of her resilience and evolution as an actor navigating the often conflicting tides of public opinion and critical scrutiny.
