Keira Knightley has recently astonished her followers as they realized her actual age when she took on the role that catapulted her to stardom.
Reflecting back to 2003, the world was quite different.
Social media was unrecognizable compared to today, there was no Netflix or home streaming… truly, we were in a different era.
However, the early 2000s were a golden age for cinema, marked by the launch of a major global franchise. Yes, we’re talking about Pirates of the Caribbean.
The first three installments are widely celebrated for their entertaining performances, unforgettable scenes, and an incredible soundtrack.
One key factor in the franchise’s success is the character Elizabeth Swann, portrayed by British actress Keira Knightley.
Lately, fans have been surprised to learn just how young Knightley was when she assumed the role. When they discovered her age, many were in disbelief—and understandably so.
How old did you think she was? Mid-20s? Early 20s? Both guesses would be incorrect. Knightley was only 17 when filming started.
One Twitter user exclaimed: “This must be a LIE,” while another added: “Wtf, I never knew.”
Another fan commented: “When I watched the movie I thought she was older than me.”
Someone else remarked: “Can you believe Keira Knightley was only 17 when Pirates of the Caribbean the Curse of the Black Pearl was filmed,” while sharing images of Knightley in her role.
Another user noted: “The fact Keira Knightley gave us these two iconic characters in the same year WHILE SHE WAS ONLY 17,” referring to her appearance in Love Actually that same year.
Following the success of the first film and its sequels, Knightley achieved significant fame, something she has discussed openly, noting it wasn’t always positive.
In a 2016 interview with Variety, Knightley said: “I found it pretty horrific. I’m not an extrovert, so I found that level of scrutiny and that level of fame really hard.
“It was an age where you are becoming, you haven’t become, and you need to make mistakes. It’s a very precarious age, particularly for women.
“You’re in some ways still a child. It was traumatic, but it set up the rest of my career.”
Despite the challenges she faced, Knightley has stated she wouldn’t change her past.
In a 2018 interview with Variety, she said: “I’m unbelievably lucky now, and my career is in a place where I really enjoy it, and I have a level of fame that’s much less intense,”
“I can deal with it now, and that’s great. But at the time, it was not so great, and took many years of therapy to figure it out.”