Keira Knightley: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances

5. Elizabeth Bennet - Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Nothing quite says period drama like Jane Austen, and none of Austen's works have quite captured the public imagination like Pride & Prejudice. Bringing the book back to the big screen was a risky undertaking; 18 years on, the image of a wet-shirted Colin Firth still looms large in public perceptions of the story. But overall Joe Wright's first collaboration with Knightley is a solid effort, bolstered by her performance as Elizabeth Bennet. In case you need reminding, Pride & Prejudice revolves around Ms. Bennet, the second of five children who live in relative luxury as gentry at the family farm of Longbourn. Since the farm will be inherited by their cousin, Elizabeth's father (Donald Sutherland) is keen to marry off his daughters as soon as possible. The rest of the plot revolves around the various suitors that the daughters encounter, including the wealthy, charismatic Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) and the now-iconic Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). Pride & Prejudice received four Oscar nominations, including a Best Actress nod for Knightley. While Wright's version is generally more melodramatic than the 1995 TV series, Knightley's performance keeps us grounded as an audience. She is particularly adept at conveying her character's alienation from the family, something which Wright sought to explore in a more realistic manner than in the book. It's a very fine performance combining poise and vulnerability, and the perfect place to start our countdown.