Keira Knightley is fully embracing her era of fast-paced, thrilling stories. Following her roles as an Iraq War whistleblower in “Official Secrets,” a detective pursuing a 1960s serial killer in “Boston Strangler,” and the deadly Helen Webb in “Black Doves,” the twice-Oscar-nominated actress is now diving into another gripping adventure: “The Woman in Cabin 10.” This Netflix adaptation of Ruth Ware’s 2016 bestseller, directed by Simon Stone, casts Knightley as Laura “Lo” Blacklock, a determined journalist assigned to cover a gathering of wealthy elites on a luxury yacht. One night, amid the dark sea, Lo hears a disturbance in the neighboring cabin and believes she witnesses a body being thrown overboard. However, her sinister hosts—played with relish by actors like Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, Daniel Ings, and Kaya Scodelario—insist it’s all in her imagination.
Knightley describes Lo as relentless, “a dog with a bone” who refuses to give up. The story unfolds with clever detective work, constant gaslighting, a near-fatal pool incident, and a tense climax.
During a Zoom interview, Knightley appears fresh-faced and stylish, sporting a chic bob and a delicate white Valentino shirt with a lace collar. She’s engaging and lively, laughing easily and even showcasing her glittering gold boots on camera, exclaiming, “They’re extraordinary! I’m all-in on this outfit.”
Ahead of the film’s October 10 release, the actress, known for her period drama roles, shares her thoughts on playful red carpet fashion, her hopes for a second season of “Black Doves” with Ben Whishaw, the upcoming “Bend It Like Beckham” sequel, and her new children’s book inspired by life with her two daughters.
Vogue: With roles in “Official Secrets,” “Boston Strangler,” “Black Doves,” and now “The Woman in Cabin 10,” you’ve portrayed characters driven to uncover the truth. What attracts you to these projects?
Keira Knightley: It’s the entertainment value. I’ve always enjoyed mysteries like Miss Marple and wanted to bring that into a more modern, edgier context. This film reminded me of ’70s thrillers such as “The Parallax View” or “The Conversation,” which often featured cool, laid-back male leads. I saw this as my chance to step into that kind of role.
Vogue: Lo has a tough, sardonic attitude.
Keira Knightley: I appreciated her certainty. It’s rare to play characters who are so sure of themselves. She made me feel powerful, even though she goes through a lot in the film [laughs].
Vogue: The cast on the yacht, including Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham, all get to be quite villainous. Did you all get to relax and party on the boat after filming?
Keira Knightley: They’re all lovely people who enjoyed playing nasty characters [laughs]. I had hoped we’d have Champagne and unwind, but we weren’t allowed to touch anything or use the furniture. The yacht was comfortable for a dozen guests, but with a large crew and cast, we were squeezed into small spaces. It wasn’t the luxurious experience I’d imagined.
Vogue: Next, we’ll see you in the second season of “Black Doves.” What can we expect from Helen’s story?
Keira Knightley: We just started filming! Expect more murder, chaos, and, of course, more cashmere.Of course. Ben and I really wanted to have some action scenes together this time, since we missed out on that in our last project. I can’t reveal if that actually happens, but the fight sequences are shaping up really well. We also have some great new characters who are a lot of fun. We had our first read-through recently, and it was incredibly exciting.
I have to bring up Bend It Like Beckham. That film was so important to me when I was growing up, and I think that’s true for a lot of women who have probably mentioned it to you.
A lot of women do talk to me about it. It’s absolutely extraordinary because, at the time we were making it, everyone was asking, “What is this?” I remember telling my friends about it, and they said it sounded really embarrassing. So the fact that it’s had this lasting life and means so much to so many people is just amazing. My eldest daughter has only seen two of my films: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Bend It Like Beckham. She plays football, and all her friends—they’re about 10 years old—had already seen it. So she finally gave in and said, “Okay, I want to see it.” And she loved it. It’s such a wonderful feeling to be part of something that still resonates with people today.
Has it been wild to see the rise of women’s football over the years? I’m thinking about the recent Euros, too.
We were watching the Lionesses this summer during the Euros, and the next morning, my daughter came down and said, “I had the best dream last night. I dreamt I scored the winning goal at the Euros.” It actually made me cry. I realized I’d never had that dream, and every single one of my male friends had. That’s what the rise of women’s football does. My kids get to have that dream. That’s magic.
A script is being written for a Bend It Like Beckham sequel. What do you think Jess and Jules are up to now? Do you think they finally became a couple?
We did think that at the time. We were like, “Obviously, we’re a couple.” We were actually brainstorming yesterday, me and Simon Stone, the director of The Woman in Cabin 10. He said, “Jules has to be a coach now.” I said, “Right, but what’s happened to Jess?!” He replied, “She’s the coach of the other team, and they have this rivalry going on.” Simon now wants payment for that idea. And are they together? Maybe they split up and get back together? I mean, who knows—25 years is a long time; so much could have happened.
I also wanted to touch on fashion. I loved your recent Erdem look for the premiere, and I feel like you’ve been having even more fun with dressing up since you turned 40.
I loved the ruff. I’ve never worn one before, which is surprising given all the period pieces I’ve done, but it’s great for your posture. In that dress, I felt like I should have ridden to the premiere on a horse, carrying a massive sword, and chopped someone’s head off. I felt like a warrior queen, and that’s what I love about Erdem’s work. You can create this whole story in your head and believe you’re somebody else for a night. That’s what I want from fashion. It’s so fun. On the red carpet, I definitely like to go a bit silly and crazy because, normally, in my everyday life, I’m a very jeans-and-a-T-shirt, scrappy sort of person. So when I do this, it’s an opportunity to wear extraordinary things.
And how excited are you for Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut?
I won’t be there because I’ll be filming Black Doves! But I will be looking online, of course. I’m so excited; I loved his work before and can’t wait to see what he does.
How soon will you get to wear new Chanel?
I hope very soon. I want to grab it as soon as it comes off the runway.I said, “Guys, come on. Just give it to me. I’ve been working with you for a while, so I better get something good, okay?” [Laughs.]
You also have a children’s book coming out called “I Love You Just the Same,” about a little girl whose life changes when she gets a sibling. How did that idea come about?
Yes, I wrote and illustrated it myself, so I hope people like it. I originally made the book for my daughter. She wasn’t sleeping well, so we started a bedtime routine where I’d draw her a picture each night. She’d always ask for one, and when she woke up in the middle of the night, she’d see the drawing and know I’d been thinking of her.
It began with just a simple heart, but then she started requesting more: “Can you draw a girl like me? Can you draw my sister? Can there be a bird and a cat?” One day, when my youngest was six months old and teething and crying all day, my daughter Edie said, “Could you draw the bird taking the baby away?” [Laughs.] It was the most brilliant thing I’d ever heard from a five-year-old. I told her, “Sure, I can do that.” After that, I realized there was a story there, and that’s how the book came to be. It’s an adventure, but it also touches on sibling rivalry and the separation anxiety many kids experience. But above all, I hope it’s just a beautiful children’s book.
Have you always been into drawing?
I’ve always loved drawing. Interestingly, Simon & Schuster, my publisher, accepted the book just a week before I started working on “Black Doves,” and my deadline was right when I finished the show. So suddenly I had two jobs—one involved a lot of intense action, and the other was drawing sweet pigeons. I’d be doing all these wild scenes as Helen Webb and then go back to my room covered in fake blood to draw. It was strange but wonderful. It actually worked well because when you’re doing something so intense, you need something else to distract you. So drawing put me in a meditative, joyful state.
Shifting back to film, it feels like we’re in a period drama resurgence right now. Would you return to that genre? What would tempt you back?
I love period dramas. I’m fascinated by history and reimagining it. But I’ve done quite a few, so I don’t want to repeat myself. It would have to be a character I haven’t played before. Right now, I’m looking for really entertaining projects, like proper genre thrillers, which is what I loved about “Black Doves.” It’s the kind of show where you come home after a tough day, make a drink, and just wonder what’s going to happen next. But who knows? Maybe I can find that in a period piece too. I’ve never worn a ruff or done anything Elizabethan, so maybe that? Or could I be a Medici? They were pretty murderous.
And what’s your next Netflix binge?
“House of Guinness”? I do love James Norton.
“The Woman in Cabin 10” will be on Netflix starting October 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Keira Knightleys recent projects and potential sequels with clear and concise answers
General Beginner Questions
1 What is the new Keira Knightley thriller on Netflix called
The new thriller is called Black Doves
2 What is Black Doves about
Its a spy thriller where Keira Knightley plays a politicians wife who is secretly a spy Her world is thrown into chaos when her handler and close friend is murdered
3 Is Black Doves a movie or a series
It is a television series on Netflix
4 Will there be a second season of Black Doves
As of now Netflix has not officially announced a second season It was released as a limited series so a renewal is not guaranteed
5 Is there going to be a Bend It Like Beckham 2
There is no official Bend It Like Beckham 2 in production Keira Knightley has only shared her own fun personal idea for what a sequel could look like
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 What was Keira Knightleys idea for a Bend It Like Beckham sequel
She suggested a sequel where her character Jules and Jess are now mothers coaching their daughters football team and dealing with the same parental pressures they once faced
7 Who stars alongside Keira Knightley in Black Doves
The series also stars Ben Whishaw as her new spy handler and Sarah Lancashire and Andrew Buchan in key roles
8 Why might Black Doves not get a second season
Many Netflix shows are designed as limited series with a selfcontained story A second season depends on viewership numbers critical reception and whether the creators feel there is more story to tell
9 How is Black Doves different from other spy thrillers
It focuses on the psychological toll and moral complexities of being a spy set against the backdrop of Londons political scene with a strong emphasis on character relationships
10 What has Keira Knightley said about returning to a franchise role
She has been selective about big franchise roles since her