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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Christian Abbott

The Duchess’ Keira Knightley's relationship history from Jamie Dornan to 9-year marriage

The Duchess is one of Keira Knightley’s defining films and it is airing on BBC One at 10.40pm.

The actress has been in some of the biggest films of the 21st century, with the star best known for her role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Over the years, she has been attached to a few other famous faces and future stars but has now been married for years.

Her marriage has also given her children, though they came after a "hellish" pregnancy.

She has managed to keep a lot of her relationship history to away from the cameras, with some of the stars she has been linked to denying any romantic connection.

Here is everything we know about Keira’s relationship history.

Who has Keira Knightley dated?

Rupert Friend

Rupert Friend dated Keira for five years (Getty Images)

From 2006 to 2011, Rupert Friend dated Keira in what was her longest relationship before her marriage.

The breakup was confirmed by Keira’s father in an interview with The Sun, saying: “Yes, they have broken up.

“They were together for quite a long time and it is always hard breaking up. She’s focused on her work.”

Rupert’s star has steadily rose over the years, recently playing the Grand Inquisitor in Disney+’s Obi-Wan series.

He also starred in Hitman: Agent 47, The Death of Stalin and Pride & Prejudice alongside Keira in 2005.

Jamie Dornan

Jamie Dornan split from Keira in 2005 (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)

Between 2003 and 2005, Keira was dating future 50 Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan.

When they were still together, the actress opened up about the relationship to The Mirror, saying: "I'm mad about him. He keeps me sane when things get stressful.

“We always have fun together."

That same year, Jamie told The Mirror: “There is a big pressure when you go out with someone such as Keira.

"The man is meant to be the alpha in the relationship on the money and power front, and clearly I was not.

“You feel like you have to be dominant in other areas and that causes problems..."

Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody completely denied a relationship with Keira (Getty Images)

In 2005, Keira was romantically linked to The Pianist actor Adrien Brody, though the actor has denied that two were ever an item.

The two starred together in The Jacket, though Adrien was furious at the romance rumours at the time.

He was in a committed relationship with Michelle Dupont, while Keira was also dating Jamie Dornan.

Adrien said at the time: "I don't know what people take me – or her – to be. I'm in a relationship and so is Keira. I don't regard being in a relationship as a loose thing."

He later told Now magazine: "We were said to be having intimate, candlelit pasta dinners in my apartment. But that's not true.

“We ate together a couple of times because we were working, but it never went further than that.

“We were committed to other people and the work on the film was non-stop."

Del Synnott

Keira and Del met back in 2001 (Getty Images)

The first actor Keira dated was Del Synnott between 2001 and 2003.

The two appear to have met while filming Princess of Thieves in 2001, which was part of The Wonderful World of Disney TV series.

The Irish-born actor is believed to have retired from acting in 2013, but before that appeared in The Great Train Robbery (TV series), The Silence and Murphy’s Law.

Who is Keira Knightley’s husband?

Keira Knightley and James Righton first met in 2011 (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Keira married James Righton in 2016 after the pair met in 2011.

She and the British musician have found the right balance between work and home life, with James opening up about their relationship to the New York Post.

He said: “Keira was in America when we had our moment in the sun in the UK, so she was oblivious.

“But, over the years, she came to loads of gigs and loved Surfing the Void.”

Later, Keira also spoke of the time they met to The Guardian, saying: “We were very drunk, and he’s the kind of person who will be the brightest light in any room, whereas I’m the one who sits in the corner.”

They got married in Mazan, France, on May 3, 2013 and now share two daughters, Edie Knightley Righton and Delilah Knightley Righton, being born in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

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