As Pride & Prejudice marks its 20th anniversary this year, Keira Knightley is revisiting the film that she says redefined how she was viewed in Hollywood. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the British actress opened up about her career trajectory before and after the 2005 Jane Austen adaptation, which earned her an Academy Award nomination at just 20 years old.

Knightley, who had already achieved global recognition for her roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and Bend It Like Beckham, said she felt dismissed by critics early in her career despite commercial success. "Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean had already come out, but I think in the public consciousness, I was seen as a terrible actress," Knightley admitted. "I think Pride & Prejudice was the first one that was a phenomenally big success, but was also critically acclaimed."

The actress has previously described 2005 as a year of extremes. Speaking to The Times, she called it a "making and breaking" moment in her career. "They were the most successful films I'll ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly," she said. "So they're a very confused place in my head."