Keira Knightley Was Confused by Her 2006 Oscar Nomination Because She Thought People Saw Her as 'a Terrible Actress' After 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

Keira Knightley is recounting a "confusing" clip erstwhile she was honored pinch an Oscar information for 1 film, and critiqued arsenic a "terrible actress" for another.

In an question and reply pinch Vanity Fair, published Thursday, June 12, Knightley, 40, recalled receiving an Oscar information successful 2006 for her capacity arsenic Pride & Prejudice's Elizabeth Bennet. However, astatine nan aforesaid time, she was being criticized for her capacity successful Pirates of nan Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

"Yes, it was beautiful large for my career. If group will travel up to me, it’ll beryllium astir that one," she told nan outlet of portraying nan Jane Austen-penned heroine, adding, "Pirates of nan Caribbean had already travel out, but I deliberation successful nan nationalist consciousness, I was seen arsenic a unspeakable actress."

Amid critiques of her capacity successful nan 2nd Pirates franchise, Knightley recalled a abrupt move successful nationalist sentiment connected her acting abilities. "But I had this phenomenally large occurrence with Pirates. And I deliberation this was nan first 1 that was a phenomenally large success, but was besides critically acclaimed."

The character continued, "So I retrieve it coming retired possibly nan aforesaid year, possibly astir nan aforesaid clip as Pirates 2. And I sewage nan worst reviews ever for that, and past besides being nominated for an Oscar astatine nan aforesaid time—it was, successful my 21-year-old head, rather confusing."

Knightley was only 20 erstwhile she received her Best Actress Academy Award nomination, which made her nan 3rd youngest nominee ever astatine nan time, per Variety.

When Pike mentioned different 1 of Knightley's early projects, 2002's Bend it Like Beckham, nan character said, "I sewage unspeakable reviews for it—or astatine slightest nan ones I remember, aliases nan ones that, successful your 17-year-old brain, really descend in. Of course, it’s only nan ones that are negative. So I deliberation it was nan first clip that it had been unequivocally positive, right?"

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Pride & Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright, was re-released successful theaters successful grant of nan film's 20th day successful April. The film's sweeping cinematography of nan bucolic English countryside and nan romanticist chemistry betwixt Knightley and Matthew McFadyen's Mr. Darcy proceed to gain nan movie adjustment of nan 1813 caller of nan aforesaid sanction a lasting legacy.

 "I conscionable retrieve being portion of thing that felt magical," Pike recalled of nan film.