It seems that Keira was born to be an actress—she definitely had the genes for it. Her mother was a Scottish actress turned award-winning playwright, and her father was also an actor. When she was three, Keira saw her parents’ agents visit their house and demanded an agent of her own. Looking back, Keira admits that she “was a bit of a brat then.” Three years later, her parents finally gave in—Keira was dyslexic and they promised her an agent if she improved her reading.

Fast forward to the present—in a little over three years, Keira has gone from an unknown teenager, cast as Natalie Portman's decoy in Star Wars Episode I, to one of the faces to watch. In 2003, Keira received international recognition and praise for her performance in the summer blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl, where she was hired to fill the corset of Elizabeth Swann.

Keira at the Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest Premier

Keira said she thought she “was going to be fired after a week.” She co-starred with movie-veteran Johnny Depp and Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom. She loved working on the movie and said, “I got to kiss Orlando Bloom, get chased a bit by Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush. It was very exciting.”

Pirates of the Caribbean did extremely well in the US box office, earning over $300 million, making it easily one of the highest earning summer movies. There will be two more Pirates movies—Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest will be out this July 7th and the third installment is currently in production.

She won the awards for Choice Chemistry and Choice Lip-lock with her hottie co-star Orlando Bloom at the Teen Choice Awards. Keira was also nominated for Breakthrough Female performance in the MTV Movie Awards.

Keira went on to act in Love Actually, King Arthur, The Jacket and Domino from late 2003 to 2005. Love Actually and King Arthur did fairly well in the box office, but The Jacket and Domino did poorly, and were not well-received.

In November 2006, Keira was seen on the big-screen as English Literature’s most famous and well-loved romantic heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, in yet another screen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The movie did well in the US box office, and was very well-received by the critics around the world.

It earned then 20-year-old Keira a Golden Globe AND Academy Award nomination for her role. Although she did not win the Oscar, Keira was very gallant and said at the ceremony, “I was so glad when they called Reese. I didn’t prepare a speech or anything, so it was a relief that she and not me who won.” Besides that, Keira was glowing at the events, decked out in a simple, yet elegantly stunning white Valentino gown at the Globes and a glamorous off-the-shoulder eggplant gown at the Academy Awards.

Keira is now a very busy lady, with four movies in the making.

Besides the filming of the last Pirates movie, Keira has also finished filming the movie Silk, based on a novel of the same title. She is set to film the movie Atonement, based on Ian McEwan’s novel, where she will once again work with director Joe Wright of Pride and Prejudice. Keira has also signed up for the film The Best Time of Our Lives. Her mother, Sharman MacDonald, wrote the script.

Even though she is so busy, Keira has managed to find time for her love life with Pride and Prejudice co-star Rupert Friend—the actress says she “is very happy with him.”

Keira’s co-workers have not a bad word to say about her. Her Pirates co-star Johnny Depp has said she “steps into the ring and attacks. She’s just as sweet as she can be and has a great sense of humor.”

Director Jerry Bruckheimer also praised her for her work in the movie, complimenting her beauty, but also saying how gifted she is. “It’s wonderful to watch her work. It seems so effortless. She’s going to be a big star,” he said.

One thing is for sure for this beautiful and talented Brit—she has attracted attention all over the globe with her spirited performances and lovely face, and great things are expected from her.

"Keira just steps into the ring and attacks. She's just as sweet as she can be and has a great sense of humor." - Johnny Depp [co-star, Pirates of the Caribbean]

"Obviously we were looking for a beautiful young woman, but beauty alone is not enough. Keira is truly gifted and it is wonderful to watch her work. It seems so effortless. She's going to be a big star." - Jerry Bruckheimer [director]

View the Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest trailer

Keira Related articles in this issue:

Check out this months Book Club which is about the life and works of Jane Austen (the author of Pride and Prejudice).

Check out this months Square Eyes which is about the film versions of Jane Austen's novels, including Keira's Pride and Prejudice.