When Kaya Scodelario joined the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), she wasn't just another face on a ship. She was stepping into a franchise that had already defined a generation of blockbusters. Fans knew her as the enigmatic Effy Stonem from Skins or Teresa from The Maze Runner, but playing Carina Smyth was a different beast entirely. Honestly, it was a massive shift for her.
Most people remember the fifth film for Jack Sparrow’s usual antics or the return of Will and Elizabeth. But if you look closer, Scodelario’s character was actually the emotional glue holding the messy plot together.
The "Witch" Who Was Actually an Astronomer
Carina Smyth wasn't your typical damsel. In the 18th century, if a woman knew how to use a telescope and solve complex equations, people didn't call her a genius. They called her a witch. This was a core part of her character arc—constantly being hunted for her intellect.
She was a horologist and an astronomer. Basically, she was the smartest person on the boat, and she knew it. While the pirates were busy drinking rum or running from ghost captains, Carina was busy following "the map that no man can read."
Scodelario has mentioned in several interviews that she felt a huge responsibility with this role. She wanted to play a woman she would have liked to see on screen when she was thirteen. Not just a "Disney princess" or a love interest, but a survivor who was stubborn, argumentative, and layered.
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What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Filming a pirate movie sounds like a dream, but for Scodelario, it was often "hell" in the most literal sense. The production in Australia was grueling. Think about it: you're wearing a heavy, 18th-century corset in the humid heat of Queensland, and you're constantly wet.
Here are some real details from the set that most people miss:
- The Corset Struggle: Kaya actually had her husband secretly loosen her corset during lunch breaks just so she could breathe and eat properly.
- Serious Stunts: She did a lot of her own stunts, including swimming in the Australian ocean. However, she actually popped her shoulder out during a scene on the Black Pearl. She had to wear a sling between takes for the final four weeks of filming.
- The Acting Dog: One of the most surprising things for her wasn't the CGI or the massive sets, but a dog on set. She went to pet it, only to be told, "No, he's working." It was a professional actor dog.
- Working with Johnny Depp: Kaya has spoken about how surreal it was to work with Depp. She’d met him before at a table read, but seeing him walk on set as Jack Sparrow made her feel like a little kid again.
The production itself faced major delays, including a shutdown when Johnny Depp injured his hand. For a young actress like Scodelario, navigating a $230 million production with that much drama was a trial by fire.
The Barbossa Twist and Emotional Stakes
The biggest reveal in the film—and arguably the best scene—is the realization that Carina is the daughter of Hector Barbossa. Geoffrey Rush is a powerhouse, and Kaya held her own against him.
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The tattoo on her arm matched the design on the diary she inherited, linking her to the legendary pirate. It gave the franchise something it had been missing: a genuine, tragic family connection that didn't feel like a rehash of Will Turner’s story. That quiet moment on the anchor before Barbossa sacrifices himself? It’s one of the few times the movie actually slows down to breathe.
Will We Ever See Her Again?
This is the big question. When Scodelario signed on for Dead Men Tell No Tales, she actually signed a contract for two movies. She’s contractually obligated to return if Pirates of the Caribbean 6 ever happens.
She has been very vocal about where she wants the character to go. She wants to see Carina take the helm of Barbossa’s legacy. Imagine an all-female pirate crew led by a woman who navigates by the stars. That’s a movie people would actually want to see.
However, the future of the franchise is, well, murky. Between the legal troubles surrounding Johnny Depp and Disney’s shifting priorities with reboots and spin-offs (like the long-rumored Margot Robbie project), Carina Smyth has been left in limbo. As of 2026, there’s been no official word on her return, though she remains one of the most interesting threads Disney could pull to keep the series alive.
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Why the Character Matters Now
Kaya Scodelario used her Pirates paycheck for more than just a nice lifestyle. She’s been open about wanting to finance her own independent films and work with female-led crews. She saw the blockbuster as a stepping stone to creative freedom.
Carina Smyth represented a shift in how female leads were handled in the series. She wasn't defined by her romance with Henry Turner (played by Brenton Thwaites), but by her quest for her father and her love for science.
If you're looking to dive deeper into Scodelario's work or the lore of the films, you should:
- Re-watch the final 20 minutes of Dead Men Tell No Tales to catch the subtle acting cues between her and Geoffrey Rush.
- Check out her earlier work in Skins to see the range she brought to such a different, gritty role before entering the Disney machine.
- Look for the prequel novel The Brightest Star in the North, which gives way more backstory on Carina’s life before she met Jack Sparrow.
She might have been a newcomer to the Caribbean, but Kaya Scodelario left a mark on the franchise that deserves more credit than it gets. Whether she ever sails the Black Pearl again or not, she proved that a woman of science is just as dangerous as any pirate with a sword.
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan of Kaya's performance, the best way to support the character's return is to engage with her more recent projects like The Gentlemen on Netflix. Studios often look at an actor's current "bankability" and trending status when deciding which legacy characters to bring back for sequels.