For over two decades, Keira Knightley has been a red carpet staple as a star in some of Hollywood’s biggest films. Since breaking out with “Bend It Like Beckham,” the actress has put her own twist on premiere and awards show fashion.
Knightley has received two nods at the Academy Awards for Best Actress with 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice” and Best Supporting Actress with 2014’s “The Imitation Game.” She’s also received nominations for the same roles from the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics’ Choice Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards.
The actress has also served as a longtime ambassador for Chanel, starring in various campaigns for the fashion house. “Keira can deliver her lines easier than the others,” late creative director Karl Lagerfeld told WWD of the actress and model back in 2013, when discussing her role in a short film he directed for Chanel titled “Once Upon a Time…”
This month Knightley’s latest project, “Black Doves,” dropped on Netflix. The six-episode debut sees the actress suiting up as a spy in a Christmas-timed thriller co-starring Ben Whishaw. The series, which was just renewed for a season two, cements the “Love Actually” star’s legacy as a holiday-time favorite.
Here, WWD takes a look back at some of Keira Knightley’s standout style moments over the years.
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‘Bend It Like Beckham’ Premeiere
Image Credit: Getty Images Actresses Keira Knightley attends the premiere of ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ at the Odeon, Leicester on April 11th, in London.
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“King Arthur” European Premiere – Afterparty
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Kiera Knightley attends the afterparty following the European Premiere of “King Arthur”, at the Guildhall on July 15, 2004 in London.
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The Hollywood Awards Gala – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images The Hollywood Awards Gala – Arrivals
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Keira Knightley Attends Screening At Rex Cinema
Image Credit: Getty Images Kiera Knightley
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London Fashion Week – Fashion Tribute to Mathew Williamson
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the Moet Chandon Fashion Tribute award at the biennial awards ceremony recognising excellence in the fashion industry, during London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2005/6 at Old Billingsgate Market on February 16, 2005 in London.
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“The Duchess” World Premiere – Red Carpet Arrivals
Image Credit: WireImage Keira Knightley arrives at the World Premiere of “The Duchess” at the Odeon Leicester Square on September 3, 2008 in London, England.
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TIFF Premiere of “Pride and Prejudice”
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley attends the gala premiere of “Pride & Prejudice” at Roy Thomson Hall during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2005 in Toronto, Ontario.
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63rd Annual Golden Globes – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley arrives to the 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton on January 16, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California.
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78th Annual Academy Awards – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley arrives to the 78th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on March 5, 2006 in Hollywood, California.
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World Premiere Of “Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest” – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest” held at Disneyland on June 24, 2006 in Anaheim, California.
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‘Pirates Of The Caribbean 2: Dead Mans Chest’ UK -After Party
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley attends the after show party following the European Premiere of “Pirates Of The Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest”, at the Old Billingsgate on July 3, 2006 in London, England.
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Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Image Credit: Getty Images Actress Keira Knightley arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Mortons on March 5, 2006 in West Hollywood, California.
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64th Venice Film Festival: Opening Ceremony And The Atonement Premiere – Day 1
Image Credit: Getty Images Keira Knightley arrives for the Opening Ceremony and the Atonement Premiere at the 64th Annual Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2007 in Venice, Italy.
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“Atonement” UK Premiere Outside Arrivals
Image Credit: WireImage Keira Knightley arrives at the Atonement UK Premiere at Odeon Leicester Square on September 4, 2007 in London, England.
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Premiere Of Focus Features’ “Atonement” – Arrivals
Image Credit: FilmMagic Actress Keira Knightley arrives to the Focus Features “Atonement” Premiere at the Academy of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California on December 6, 2007.
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London Evening Standard Theatre Awards – Red Carpet Arrivals
Image Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage attends the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards at Theatre Royal on December 3, 2017 in London, England.
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The Orange British Academy Film Awards 2008 – Outside Arrivals
Image Credit: WireImage Keira Knightley arrives at the Orange British Academy Film Awards 2008 held at the Royal Opera House on February 10, 2008 in London, England.
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“Pride & Prejudice” UK Premiere – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images arrives at the UK Premiere for the film ‘Pride and Prejudice’ at the Odeon Leicester Square on September 5, 2005 in London, England.
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The Cinema Society with Chanel and Vogue Host a Screening of “The Duchess” – After Party
Image Credit: WireImage Actress Keira Knightley attends the after party for the the Cinema Society with Chanel and Vogue’s screening of “The Duchess” at the Cooper Square Hotel on September 10, 2008 in New York City.
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59th Berlin Film Festival – ‘Cheri’ Premiere
Image Credit: Getty Images attends the premiere for Cheri’ as part of the 59th Berlin Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 10, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
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Focus Features’ Pride & Prejudice New York City Premiere – Arrivals
Image Credit: FilmMagic Keira Knightley during Focus Features’ Pride & Prejudice New York City Premiere – Arrivals at Loews Lincoln Square in New York City, New York, United States.
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The World Premiere of “Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl”
Image Credit: WireImage -
Lancia On The Red Carpet At The 68th Venice Film Festival – September 2, 2011
Image Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto at Palazzo del Cinema on September 2, 2011 in Venice, Italy.
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Premiere Of Focus Features’ “Anna Karenina” – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images attends the premiere of Focus Features’ ‘Anna Karenina’ held at ArcLight Cinemas on November 14, 2012 in Hollywood, California.
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“Begin Again” New York Premiere
Image Credit: FilmMagic Actress Keira Knightley attends the “Begin Again” premiere at SVA Theater on June 25, 2014 in New York City.
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“The Imitation Game” – Opening Night Gala: 58th BFI London Film Festival
Image Credit: WireImage LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Keira Knightley attends a screening of “The Imitation Game” on the opening night gala of the 58th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 8, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
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Screening Of The Weinstein Company “The Imitation Game” Hosted By Chanel – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images attends the screening Of The Weinstein Company’s “The Imitation Game” hosted by Chanel at DGA Theater on November 10, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
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18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images attends the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Paladium on November 14, 2014 in Hollywood, California.
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“The Imitation Game” New York Premiere
Image Credit: FilmMagic NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: Keira Knightley attends “The Imitation Game” New York Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on November 17, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)
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72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
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TNT’s 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – Arrivals
Image Credit: WireImage attends TNT’s 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. 25184_021
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20th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards – Arrivals
Image Credit: FilmMagic Actress arrives at the 20th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards at Hollywood Palladium on January 15, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
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87th Annual Academy Awards – Arrivals
Image Credit: WireImage attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California.
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2018 Sundance Film Festival – “Colette” Premiere
Image Credit: Getty Images PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 19: Actor Keira Knightley attends the ‘Colette’ Premiere during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre on January 20, 2018 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images)
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Premiere Of Bleecker Street Media’s “Colette” – Arrivals
Image Credit: Getty Images attends the premiere of Bleecker Street Media’s “Colette” at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 14, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.
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“Colette” UK Premiere & BFI Patrons Gala – 62nd BFI London Film Festival
Image Credit: WireImage LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 11: Keira Knightley attends the UK Premiere of “Colette” and BFI Patrons gala during the 62nd BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
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ELLE’s 25th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration Presented By L’Oreal Paris, Hearts On Fire And CALVIN KLEIN – Red Carpet
Image Credit: Getty Images for ELLE Magazine attends ELLE’s 25th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration presented by L’Oreal Paris, Hearts On Fire and CALVIN KLEIN at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
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Disney’s “The Nutcracker And The Four Realms” – European Premiere – VIP Arrivals
Image Credit: Dave Benett/WireImage attends the European Premiere of Disney’s “The Nutcracker And The Four Realms” at Vue Westfield on November 1, 2018 in London, England.
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Investitures At Buckingham Palace
Image Credit: Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 13: Actress Keira Knightley arrives to receive an OBE for her services to drama and charity, at Buckingham Palace on December 13, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Chanel Cruise 2020 Collection : Photocall
Image Credit: Getty Images PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 03: Keira Knightley attends the Chanel Cruise 2020 Collection : Photocall In Le Grand Palais on May 03, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
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“Official Secrets” European Premiere – 63rd BFI London Film Festival
Image Credit: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 10: Kiera Knightley attends the “Official Secrets” European Premiere during the 63rd BFI London Film Festival at the Embankment Gardens Cinema on October 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
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Chanel : Front Row – Paris Fashion Week – Haute Couture Fall Winter 2022 2023
Image Credit: Corbis via Getty Images PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 05: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY – For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Keira Knightley attends the Chanel Haute Couture Fall Winter 2022 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 05, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
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20th Century Studios’ “Boston Strangler” New York Screening
Image Credit: Getty Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Keira Knightley attends the 20th Century Studios’ “Boston Strangler” New York Screening at Museum of Modern Art on March 14, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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Celebrity Sightings In New York City – March 15, 2023
Image Credit: GC Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Keira Knightley is seen in Upper West Side on March 15, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
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Celebrity Sightings In New York City – March 15, 2023
Image Credit: GC Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Keira Knightley is seen in Midtown on March 15, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
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Celebrity Sightings In New York City – March 15, 2023
Image Credit: GC Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Keira Knightley is seen in Midtown on March 15, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
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Chanel: Photocall – Paris Fashion Week – Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2024-2025
Image Credit: Corbis via Getty Images PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY – For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Keira Knightley attends the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
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“Black Doves” Season One World Premiere – Arrivals
Image Credit: WireImage LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Keira Knightley attends the “Black Doves” Season One World Premiere at the BFI Southbank on December 03, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)