Keira Knightley Reveals Why She Wouldn't Sign Up for Another Movie Franchise

Mar. 15, 2025

Keira Knightley.Photo: Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Keira Knightleyhas no intentions of signing up for another multi-movie franchise – instead, she’s happy to spend time with her family of four.The actress, who famously starred in Disney’sThe Pirates of the Caribbeanseries, spoke withThe Timesin a new interview and shared that she’s gotten picker about which projects she’ll sign onto since having her daughters Edie, 9, and Delilah, 5, whom she shares with husbandJames Righton.“I couldn’t go job to job [abroad] now,” Knightley shares. “I wouldn’t be in any way fair to them, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve chosen to have children, I want to bring them up, so I’ve had to take a major step back.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Keira Knightley and James Righton.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via GettySpeaking about her time filmingPirates, the actress later says she’s ruled out returning to a franchise again. “The hours are insane. It’s years of your life, you have no control over where you’re filming, how long you’re filming, what you’re filming.“As her kids get older, Knightley says they aren’t interested in seeing any of her work. They are, however, fans ofHarry Potter, but were unimpressed when they saw Emma Watson appear in another film.“She said actors shouldn’t play other characters,” the mom of two jokes of daughter Edie. “Well, we wouldn’t live in this house, darling.“Keira Knightley and James Righton.Mike Egerton/PA Images via GettyWhile appearing on an Aug. 5 episode of the iHeartPodcastRuthie’s Table 4, Knightley opened up abouther daughter’s dyslexia diagnosis for the first timein a rare family update.“We have a dyslexic kid,” Knightley said on the podcast. “Her memory is absolutely amazing.“Righton, who also appeared on the podcast, shared that their daughter will “memorize the book basically — it’s amazing.“In April 2022, Knightley first told PEOPLE that her two daughters seemed to have no interest in watching their famous mother onscreen.Noting that Edie “has not” seen any of her film roles — which range from thePirates of the Caribbeanseries toPride & Prejudice— Knightley told PEOPLE exclusively, “She’s completely uninterested.“Keira Knightley.Dave Benett/Getty Images"I did a version ofThe Nutcrackera couple of years ago, and she actually came on set with me to that one when she was 3, so I thought, ‘Oh, this year maybe she wants to watch that?’ " she continued. “[But] she said ‘No.’ ““So she is completely uninterested in seeing me in any way at all on television, which is completely fair enough,” Knightley added. “I think that’s very healthy.”

Keira Knightleyhas no intentions of signing up for another multi-movie franchise – instead, she’s happy to spend time with her family of four.

The actress, who famously starred in Disney’sThe Pirates of the Caribbeanseries, spoke withThe Timesin a new interview and shared that she’s gotten picker about which projects she’ll sign onto since having her daughters Edie, 9, and Delilah, 5, whom she shares with husbandJames Righton.

“I couldn’t go job to job [abroad] now,” Knightley shares. “I wouldn’t be in any way fair to them, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve chosen to have children, I want to bring them up, so I’ve had to take a major step back.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Keira Knightley and James Righton.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Speaking about her time filmingPirates, the actress later says she’s ruled out returning to a franchise again. “The hours are insane. It’s years of your life, you have no control over where you’re filming, how long you’re filming, what you’re filming.”

As her kids get older, Knightley says they aren’t interested in seeing any of her work. They are, however, fans ofHarry Potter, but were unimpressed when they saw Emma Watson appear in another film.

“She said actors shouldn’t play other characters,” the mom of two jokes of daughter Edie. “Well, we wouldn’t live in this house, darling.”

Keira Knightley and James Righton.Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

While appearing on an Aug. 5 episode of the iHeartPodcastRuthie’s Table 4, Knightley opened up abouther daughter’s dyslexia diagnosis for the first timein a rare family update.

“We have a dyslexic kid,” Knightley said on the podcast. “Her memory is absolutely amazing.”

Righton, who also appeared on the podcast, shared that their daughter will “memorize the book basically — it’s amazing.”

In April 2022, Knightley first told PEOPLE that her two daughters seemed to have no interest in watching their famous mother onscreen.

Noting that Edie “has not” seen any of her film roles — which range from thePirates of the Caribbeanseries toPride & Prejudice— Knightley told PEOPLE exclusively, “She’s completely uninterested.”

Keira Knightley.Dave Benett/Getty Images

Dave Benett/Getty Images

“I did a version ofThe Nutcrackera couple of years ago, and she actually came on set with me to that one when she was 3, so I thought, ‘Oh, this year maybe she wants to watch that?’ " she continued. “[But] she said ‘No.’ "

“So she is completely uninterested in seeing me in any way at all on television, which is completely fair enough,” Knightley added. “I think that’s very healthy.”

source: people.com