Keira Knightley is best known for her signature brunette hair and elegant hairstyles. While she has appeared with various cuts and styles on screen and at events, many fans may not know that she has often worn wigs—especially in recent years.
In a 2016 interview with InStyle U.K., the Pirates of the Caribbean star revealed she turned to wigs after years of hair damage caused by frequent dyeing for film roles. “I have dyed my hair virtually every color imaginable for different films. It got so bad that my hair literally began to fall out of my head,” she said. “So for the past five years, I’ve used wigs, which is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to my hair.”
Knightley also shared that motherhood changed her hair’s texture. Since becoming a mother in 2015, she said her naturally curly hair had become much thicker, leading to more tangles and even dreadlocks.
In a later conversation with The Cut, she clarified that her use of wigs was limited to film sets. “I wear wigs for films, which is a great thing and has saved my hair. When you’re on a film set and they’re doing your hair every day and dyeing it a million different colors, it does tend to fall out,” she explained.
Knightley has appeared in several films during that five-year period likely wearing wigs. In Anna Karenina (2012), she sported thick, styled curls, and in The Imitation Game (2014), her character had softer, caramel-colored hair, different from the dark brown she wore off screen. Both styles were likely achieved with hairpieces to prevent damage from daily styling.
Her wig use dates back even further. In The Duchess (2008), Knightley wore large, elaborate wigs typical of the film’s historical setting. She later admitted they were extremely uncomfortable. “The wigs were big like birdcages,” she told USA Today. “The hats were sewn onto the tops of them. And the whole thing was glued to my head, pinned in. I had neck ache. I literally couldn’t hold the thing up, so they built me a stand to rest it on.”
Thankfully, more recent wigs have been lighter and more natural-looking. Knightley’s decision to use them has not only protected her hair but also allowed her to fully transform into her characters without long-term damage.
