Keira Knightley

“But acting is very much a profession that is you're hot one moment and not the next - and that is totally cool. I think that's what I find most fascinating and most exciting about it - is that it can be gone in a puff of smoke.”

“My upbringing is why I am the person I am today. I have very wise parents.”

“I didn't know this about myself, but when 'Pirates of the Caribbean' came out I realised that I didn't enjoy a huge amount of recognition. I didn't react to it well, but I think life is about finding out who you are and what you like. So I started doing independent movies and art-house films instead.”

“I find it quite difficult on studio films because there are so many different executives and things like that that you have to go through, so very often getting that definitive opinion is actually quite difficult.”

“I don't think I can call myself an actress yet. I just don't think my skill level is that high. I hope that with every job it gets better. But until I'm good, I can say I'm trying to be an actor, but I don't think I've completely made it.”

“I'm doing a film now with a lot of guys as well, so at the end of that I will be growing a beard.”

“Nice is the worst word.”

“I think everybody has the right to a private life.”

“What's nice about playing somebody real is that generally there's more information about them, so a lot of the questions that you'd otherwise have to make up the answers to are already there.”

“If only I wasn't an atheist, I could get away with anything.”

“I started working when I was seven, and ever since then I've been saving for an apartment. Even before that I had a little jam jar designated for my apartment money.”

“It's not everyday you get to do a pirate movie, you might as well go for it.”

“At this particular time, I probably am more comfortable with myself. Just now I'm having a lovely time.”

“I find more interesting roles for women in period pieces. I do personally like watching period films; I think you can really get lost in the fantasy of them.”

“I think every girl is looking for her Mr. Darcy.”

“It's all about perfection, isn't it?”

“My mum says that I was born 45, and I do remember at six thinking that I should be earning my own living.”

“It's fantastic to have the opportunity to work abroad, and do all that, but there is a certain point where you're just like, 'Oh, I'd love to work at home.'”

“I made a conscious decision to live my life the best way I could and that meant to publicise myself as little as possible.”

“I wasn't allowed to do commercials. I wasn't allowed to do TV series. I wasn't allowed to do soaps or basically anything that would mean I missed too much school.”