Keira Knightley Reveals Why She Has No Plans to Return to Film Franchises After Her Role in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’

Keira Knightley gained increased fame after her role in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, but she has no desire to return to that lifestyle.

The actress, who appeared in several Pirates films from 2003 to 2007, explained in the U.K.’s Times that she avoids joining another multi-film franchise. Knightley has become more selective about her career since having daughters Edie and Delilah with her husband, James Righton. “I couldn’t go from job to job now,” Knightley stated. “It wouldn’t be fair to them, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve chosen to have children, and I want to raise them, so I’ve had to significantly step back.”

Knightley reflected on her time making the Pirates films as Elizabeth Swann. She acknowledges that while the series made her a household name, it also led to public criticism. “It’s interesting when something both makes and breaks you,” she said, noting that despite the criticism, the franchise's success allowed her to pursue Oscar-nominated films. “They are the most successful films I’ll ever be involved in, and they were the reason I was taken down publicly. So they hold a very conflicted place in my mind.” The experience was so unsettling that Knightley has no desire to return to movie franchises: “The hours are extreme. It consumes years of your life, and you have no control over where, how long, or what you’re filming.”

Although another film series is not an option, Knightley is set to appear in the upcoming Netflix thriller series Black Doves, where she portrays a British spy caught in a dangerous romance. The Oscar nominee mentioned that she is now seeking roles that offer “pure entertainment.” “I’ve been really surprised in the past few years by what I’ve declined,” Knightley told The Times. “I’ve wanted it to be more pure entertainment, and perhaps that’s because I’ve needed that. I keep being offered roles about children dying or mothers dying. I can’t do it.”