The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions.
Question
Natalie Portman & Keira Knightley look quite alike. No surprise, since Keira played a stand-in for Portman in Phantom Menace.
Over the years both have had similar trajectories and established careers. They went on to do prestige work after finding fame from huge franchises. Portman had the prequel trilogy while Knightley had Pirates of the Caribbean. Side note, but both also became prominent faces of big fashion houses, Natalie for Dior and Keira for Chanel (irrelevant for this discussion of course).
Natalie Portman of course has an Oscar for her amazing performance in Black Swan as well as 2 further nominations for Closer and Jackie. Keira has had 2 nominations for Pride & Prejudice & Imitation Game but no win.
Some notable films of Natalie Portman are:
Leon the Professional, Closer, Black Swan, V for Vendetta, Jackie, Annihilation, Vox Lux, Garden State, Thor, Brothers & Star Wars Prequels.
Keira's best films include:
Atonement, Pride & Prejudice, Imitation game, POTC trilogy, Begin Again, Anna Karenina, Bend it like Beckham, Love Actually, A Dangerous Method & Collette.
I feel on average both have good filmographies but Portman has more classics.
As for acting, I find both equally great. Keira has become kind of a queen for period pieces while Portman has had more varied roles. I think Portman edges out, with the Black Swan performance being the deciding factor.
What do you think?
Sort by:
Best
Open comment sort options
Best
Top
New
Controversial
Old
Q&A
Natalie Portman. Her range is stronger.
I feel like a boxing match is the only way to know. Their arms looks pretty similar lenght. But yeah, after watching the new Thor, Portman looks fit. I think she could take her.
Portman in Thor could beat me up. Which would actually be pretty cool.
I think Portman would always have won that bout but these days it’s pretty clear, she’s beefed up for Thor and would snap Kiera.
Never seen Knightley do something as good as Black Swan, Jackie, or Annihilation.
Natalie all the way
In terms of acting abilities probably Natalie Portman. But looks wise, they are both beautiful.
I’d have to go out to dinner with both and judge in person.
Knightley.
She has the broader range and I’ve actually believed her in some of her roles, while Natalie Portman just tends to be Natalie Portman in most of the things she does.
That is crazy to me. Keira never did a role that took your breath, did she? Acting-wise, I mean. I really love both but Natalie Portman knocks it out of the park even without comparing her with anyone.
Portman, who also did The Other Boleyn Girl (since you where talking about the queen of period pieces).
Can “a long time ago in a galaxy far far away” be considered a period piece as well? I’d count it.
ofc Portman
The one with the oscar.
I do not know if we've experienced Knightley's full range, but when she is in frame, directors can't help but lean into her movie star qualities. She's always self possessed, strong, beautiful in a very clean way.
Keira obviously could do the star wars role, but black swan, Garden State or annihilation, I don't think I've seen anything like that from Knightey, I don't even think she would have the depth the Jane has in Thor.
Keira.
Natalie Portman. Anytime I've seen Keira Knightley in a movie I always just assumed they couldn't get Natalie Portman for the role so they casted the knock off version.
I think Natalie Portman definitely has the stronger body of work and higher highs, but she also has much lower lows. Knightley hits for a higher average and has never had a disaster like Your Highness or Lucy in the Sky.
Your Highness was meant to be a dumb comedy, so I don’t think it’s really fair to count that against her.
Natalie is a better actress, Keira is a good movie star.
Fantastic answer.
Kiera now but Portman is consistently good.
The one who isn’t in a marvel movie lol. Marvel is where talent goes to die (if they had it in the first place. Portman never did. Anyone can act emo in front of a camera).
Maybe if you have dark sunglasses on in a dark room and you look at a black and white picture of both of them, they do.
The look nothing alike.
Portman and it isn't even close.
Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley do look alike. ME and Natalie Portman look nothing alike.
Just because someone says that two people look alike, doesn't mean you can't tell which is which. There are plenty of actors that look similar, but most people will still be able to tell them apart.
What's funny is that one of their first roles was playing body doubles of each other in The Phantom Menace.
They were a bit similarish in the teenages, and if you just focus on their faces. But that Knighley was the stand in for a four year older girl would tell you they are not super similar.
What’s even funnier is Portman had already done 6 films by then, multiple of which were and are critically acclaimed. Body doubles don’t have to look alike, merely similar bodies. Thus the title. Amadala was also covered in makeup, can’t really make a case for them looking alike off that.
And yet, on that set, they wore identical costumes and Keira Knightley fooled Portman's mother into thinking Natalie had perfected her British accent.
I knew somebody was going to say something stupid like this. You're 100% wrong and maybe have some kind of face blindness. They are near identical and look as close as two non-related people can possibly be.
They fucking look alike
Keira by far. Though I’m a fan of Natalie, I’m far more likely to see a movie with Keira.
Knightley never inspired the word strong for me. Maybe because of her role in Pirates being a damsel and then her turnaround wasn't really convincing. Natalie Portman has the face for serious roles and between Queen Amydala and The Black Swan, she takes the cake on "strong".
The whole point of her character is that she wasn't a damsel as it first appeared.
I follow that, it just wasn't convincing to me. Something about her face and the way she carried herself. I just never bought it, just had to accept it as part of the writing. And to be fair, I haven't seen like anything else she was in. She might be forever ruined for me though. I see her on the Black Pearl calling parlay, and it's just so weak.
I hoenstly don't think they look that much alike at least not without makeup. Kiera has said she's taken stuff Natalie has turned down. I think Kiera is a better actor but Natalie takes better projects.
Portman "edges out" Keira?
That's like comparing Marlon Brando to Ben Affleck.
Seriously? The professional was made when Portman was 12, she literally fought her parents for the role. And I know without a doubt that even an adult actress couldn’t have been as good as she was. All knightley could and would be known for is starring alongside genuinely good actors Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush in pirate movies lmao.
Portman by a country mile.
Cand stand Keira’s accent. So blue blood prissy.
Knightley has never given a performance as outright terrible as Portman in V for Vendetta and Revenge of the Sith.
How about Domino?
It's been years and years since I saw that, I'd have to watch it again.
Lol, I can only remember that even Mickey Rourke couldn’t pull that one off.
They’re both pretty lame
Never been a fan of Keira Knightley’s acting.
Not a huge fan of Portman’s but have respect for a fair bit of it, been impressed a few times, loved some of the films she’s been in.
Portman for the win.
Uh, Natalie just played the putative Strongest Avenger. No contest.
Portman… it’s no contest.
Who cares!
Natalie Portman is the better actress, but Keira Knightly seems more willing to talk about the similarities. I've never heard Natalie talk about them. Natalie comes off like she thinks she is too righteous, to talk about it. Keira seems more down to Earth. Keira is 4 inches taller and has a better body then Natalie. That may change in another 10 years. Natalie doesn't smoke, but Keira does.
Anyone who said Keira Knightley is nuts. All of her roles may vary but her acting doesn’t. She has about 3 facial expressions and cannot convey emotion in any meaningful way.
Portman by contrast is actually an actress that can, well… act!
Remember remember the 5th of November.