Keira Knightley Opens Up About the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Franchise and its Impact on Her Career
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, British actress Keira Knightley discussed the impact of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise on her career. The franchise, which includes films such as ‘The Curse of the Black Pearl’ and ‘Dead Man’s Chest’, made Knightley a global star, but she has now revealed that it also led to a negative perception of her acting skills.
According to an article published in The Independent, Knightley played Elizabeth Swann, the love interest of Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner, in three of the swashbuckling adventure films from 2003 to 2007. The pair returned as a cameo in the 2017 sequel ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’. While the franchise was a huge success, grossing over $1 billion at the global box office, Knightley has said that it was a "confused place" in her head.
In her interview with Vanity Fair, Knightley said: "Pirates of the Caribbean had already come out, but I think in the public consciousness, I was seen as a terrible actress. I had this phenomenally big success with Pirates and I think ‘Pride & Prejudice’ was the first one that was a phenomenally big success, but was also critically acclaimed." Knightley’s comments suggest that the franchise had a lasting impact on her career, with many critics and audiences questioning her acting abilities.
Knightley’s experience with the franchise was further complicated by her simultaneous nomination for an Oscar for her role in ‘Pride & Prejudice’. The second ‘Pirates’ film, ‘Dead Man’s Chest’, was released in July 2006, months after Knightley received her first Best Actress Oscar nomination. Knightley has said that this was a "quite confusing" time in her 21-year-old head, with her receiving both critical acclaim and harsh criticism for her performances.
The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise has had a lasting impact on the film industry, with a sixth film reportedly in the works. However, it appears that lead star Johnny Depp will not be involved in the new film. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that the new film will be a reboot, allowing the franchise to move forward without Depp’s involvement.
In 2024, Depp was questioned about his potential return to the franchise during his defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp stated that he would not return to the franchise, even for a large sum of money. When asked by Heard’s lawyer if he would return to work with Disney on a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film for $300 million and a million alpacas, Depp replied: "That is true."
Orlando Bloom has also spoken about his experience working on the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bloom said: "I definitely understand where Keira was coming from, and she does wonderful things
