“Doesn’t mean that you’re stupid”– When Keira Knightley shared how she overcame challenges with dyslexia in her career

Keira Knightley boasts an impressive acting career, which began in 1995 when she was a child. Her first prominent acting role was in the 2002 sports drama Bend It Like Beckham at age 17.

The following year, she starred in a leading role in the blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl alongside Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. She went on to appear in two sequel films, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, released in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

In 2005, the young actress was widely praised for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice, which earned Keira her first Oscar nomination. Over the next few years, she appeared in numerous critically acclaimed films like Atonement, The Imitation Game, Never Let Me Go, The Duchess, and Anna Karenina, among others.

Given her accomplishments and long-standing work in period dramas, fans were surprised to learn that Keira struggled with dyslexia while growing up. In September 2012, she spoke to Newsround about the experience by saying:

"Dyslexia is like a wall... it's very difficult to see over it.....It doesn't mean that you're stupid... it just means that you work in a different way."

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How did Keira Knightley overcome her challenges with dyslexia?

Keira Knightley and James Righton seen arriving for the Paris Fashion Week (Image via Getty)

Keira Knightley was diagnosed with dyslexia at age six after her teachers noticed her struggling to read books. At the same time, she had expressed an interest in acting, prompting her parents to get her an agent. The Collateral Beauty star revealed that acting became a huge motivation for her to read, as he parents allowed her to audition for roles as long as she improved her reading and grades.

In 2005, Keira revealed that she had sufficiently overcome the learning disability by age 11 with help from her parents and teachers. In the same 2012 interview, she reflected on how her love of acting was instrumental in helping her overcome dyslexia.

"I was really lucky because I had acting... it was like a carrot that was being dangled in front of me because I had to be able to read those lines in order to do it."

Keira Knightley still struggles with reading out loud and considers herself a slow reader. Dyslexia affects around 10% of the population, and she is one of many high-profile celebrities living with a learning disability.

Several famous personalities like Jennifer Aniston, Salma Hayek, Cher, Jamie Oliver, and Agatha Christie grew up dyslexic and went on to achieve great success and fame in their respective creative fields.

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Keira Knightley starred in the Netflix series Black Doves in 2024

Keira Knightley turned into a spy for the Netflix thriller series Black Doves, released on December 5, 2024. The six-part series was created and written by Joe Barton, while Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning served as the show's directors.

In the festive spy series, Keira plays Helen Webb, a member of the spy organization Black Doves. She is tasked with stealing government secrets from her politician husband and Britain's defense secretary, Wallace Webb.

However, her life takes a drastic turn after her secret lover, Jason, gets killed. Her quest to avenge Jason's death, with help from her good friend and assassin Sam Young, leads the duo to uncover a broader geopolitical crisis.

Knightley's co-stars in the series include Sarah Lancashire, Ben Whishaw, Andrew Koji, and Andrew Buchan. Also, Kathryn Hunter, Omari Douglas, Sam Troughton, Tracey Ullman, Ella Lily Hyland, and Isabella Wei round out the show's supporting cast.

For her performance in the series, Keira Knightley received nominations at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards and the Critics' Choice Awards in 2025.

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