Don’t Ask Her To Wear A Corset
From humble beginnings as a stand in for Natalie Portman in The Phantom Menace all the way to helming some of the most poignant and acclaimed dramas in modern memory, Natalie Portman has more than earned her stripes as an actor. With The Aftermath set to release in 2019, what better time to look back at this leading lady’s most iconic of roles!
#5: Anna Karenina
“Anna Karenina†(2012)
Knightley is no stranger to period pieces, especially in her work with director Joe Wright, and this adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy novel proved to be one of their most daring collaborations. Starring as the titular Russian aristocrat caught in a tempestuous affair, the actress has to straddle a fine line between being relatable and detestable given her situation, but it’s a challenge she meets majestically. Though the film has been criticised for favouring style over substance, Knightley’s performance was widely noted as an uncontested highlight.
#4: Joan Clarke
“The Imitation Game†(2014)
Although this film largely belongs to Benedict Cumberbatch, for his performance as Alan Turing, Knightley’s stellar work shouldn’t be overlooked. As Joan Clarke, she plays a brilliant mathematician and an important character in Turing’s attempts to crack the German code – as well as a vital figure in his personal life. A heartfelt and memorable supporting role which more than deserved the Oscar nomination Keira eventually received, she brings charm, emotion and energy into every scene she’s in.
#3: Elizabeth Swann
The “Pirates of the Caribbean†Series (2003-)
“Bend It Like Beckham†may have given Knightley her shot at stardom, but this role in Disney’s flagship action-adventure franchise secured it. Again, she’s probably not the first face most would picture when thinking of the “Pirates†films, that’d be Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow, but Knightley’s Swann is the real protagonist of at least the first installment, “The Curse of the Black Pearlâ€. And she remains an important part of the series’ first trilogy. This may be the only major franchise to Keira’s name, but it’s a swashbuckler and then some!
#2: Elizabeth Bennet
“Pride & Prejudice†(2005)
Given the heralded adaptations that had gone before, reimagining the beloved protagonist of Jane Austen’s seminal novel might’ve been an impossible task. But Knightley rises to the challenge here. Keira portrays the character’s progressive attitude with a delightful disdain for traditional societal expectations, bringing Austen’s words to life with a fresh and contemporary flair. Providing a rulebook 101 for period dramas, it’s a role which also earned Knightley a Best Actress Oscar nod. She’s a grade A fit for the grand occasion.
#1: Cecilia Tallis
“Atonement†(2007)
Although this Joe Wright collaboration didn’t land Knightley with another Oscar nomination, it takes today’s top spot as her finest and most memorable film. Playing Cecilia, the daughter of a wealthy family who becomes embroiled in a contentious relationship with the housekeeper’s son, Keira’s character stands as modern romance movie icon. And while the Academy looked elsewhere, she did receive well-deserved recognition from the Golden Globes and BAFTA. Knightley’s passionate performance and on-screen chemistry with James McAvoy make for a teary, tragic and timeless wartime story.
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