Keira Knightley on the cover of Beach magazine’s June 2014 issue

On close collaborator, director Joe Wright:

“Joe’s always supported me and helped me push my limits,” she says. “Having this creative relationship with him has been an incredible opportunity for me. Working with someone you know and who knows you changes absolutely everything. We can create a story together more quickly.”

On her admiration for legendary designer Coco Chanel:

“She was a free woman in the strongest sense of the word. She created clothing everyone could wear. Her creations precisely express her free spirit.”

On making peace with her career choice:

“For a long time, I had trouble saying I was an actress, but today I can. I’m still just as stressed out when I start a film shoot, and I’m not happy with everything that I do—far from it. But with time and each new film, I continue to learn, unlearn and learn again, and therefore build who I am.”