Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley, the daughter of Sharman Macdonald, a Scottish actress and playwright, and English theatre and television actor Will Knightley, never doubted what her future career would be. It is reported that at age three she asked her parents if she could have an agent, but that they would not allow it until she was six.

Her acting career began at age seven in a television show, with other parts in television series and made for television movies following. She came to international fame in 2003 in the film Bend it like Beckham and the first of the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

In 2005 Knighley starred as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, and received both Golden Globe and Oscar Best Actress nominations for the role.

• Times Argus: Pride and Prejudice

  "Marrying off those Bennet sisters again, but this time Elizabeth is a looker."

• Keira Knightley's shining armour

Don't be fooled by her delicate beauty - Keira Knightley is a star of pure steel. But, as Brigid Delaney writes, she'd rather be home cooking a chook.