If you’re looking for a Hollywood marriage that actually works, you’ve basically found the gold standard. Keira Knightley, the face of every period drama you've ever loved, didn't marry a fellow A-lister or a tech billionaire. She married a guy who used to jump around on stage in neon outfits playing the keyboard.
Honestly, it’s the most "London" love story ever.
Keira Knightley is married to James Righton, a British musician who first shot to fame as the co-frontman of the indie-rock band Klaxons. They’ve been together for over a decade now, which in "celebrity years" is basically a lifetime.
The Drunken Dinner Party That Started It All
So, how does an Oscar nominee meet a "nu-rave" rock star?
It wasn't a red carpet. It wasn't a movie set. It was a dinner party in 2011. According to Keira, they were both "very drunk." A mutual friend—Tim, not Alexa Chung as the tabloids always claimed—introduced them. At the time, James was part of the Klaxons, a band that famously beat Amy Winehouse for the Mercury Prize in 2007.
Funny enough, Keira had no idea who he was.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With the Brittany Snow Divorce
While the Klaxons were having their "moment in the sun" in the UK, Keira was living in America, totally oblivious to the neon-drenched indie scene. James later joked that it was probably for the best. It allowed them to connect as people, not as brands.
That Low-Key Wedding (and the Reused Dress)
By May 2013, they were ready to make it official. But if you were expecting a massive, $2 million bash with a 500-person guest list, you'd be wrong.
They got married in Mazan, a small town in the south of France. It was tiny. Like, "11 guests total" tiny. Keira wore a short, pale pink Chanel dress that she’d actually worn before to a pre-BAFTA party. She even wore it again to a red carpet event later that year.
"Every time I've worn that dress, I've had a brilliant night," Keira once told a reporter.
They left the ceremony in a silver Renault Clio. No limos. No motorcades. Just a couple of newlyweds in a beat-up hatchback.
🔗 Read more: Danny DeVito Wife Height: What Most People Get Wrong
Who Exactly is James Righton?
He’s more than just "Keira Knightley's husband." James is a serious musician who has navigated the "extreme highs and lows" of the industry. After the Klaxons disbanded in 2015, he didn't just disappear.
He’s been incredibly busy:
- Shock Machine: His 2016 solo project that leaned into synth-pop.
- ABBA Voyage: James actually worked with Benny Andersson on the music for the massive ABBA avatar show in London.
- The Performer & Jim, I'm Still Here: His solo albums released under his own name.
- Film Scoring: He’s moved into composing, even creating music for brands like Tiffany & Co. and Chanel.
Keira actually credits herself as his "number one fan," though she admits their domestic life is pretty mundane. James has described her as "the least movie star person possible." When they aren't at a Chanel show or Wimbledon (where they were spotted looking sharp in July 2025), they’re just parents living in North London.
Growing the Family
The couple has two daughters: Edie, born in 2015, and Delilah, born in 2019.
They are notoriously private about their kids. You won't find them on Instagram (Keira famously avoids social media entirely). However, Keira has shared some hilarious "mom" moments in interviews. She once mentioned that during the 2021 lockdowns, the whole family caught COVID-19, and James was being "smug" about it because he’s a cold-water swimmer and didn't feel as sick as everyone else.
💡 You might also like: Mara Wilson and Ben Shapiro: The Family Feud Most People Get Wrong
Why Their Marriage Still Matters in 2026
In a world where celebrity breakups are announced via Instagram Stories every Tuesday, Keira and James feel stable. They’ve successfully balanced two very different careers—one in the hyper-visible world of Hollywood and the other in the more niche, experimental music scene.
What really makes it work?
Maybe it’s the fact that they don't try to be a "power couple." They’re rarely in the tabloids for anything other than looking slightly grumpy while getting coffee or attending a fashion show together. They’ve managed to keep the "work" part of their lives separate from the "family" part.
If you're looking to follow their lead, here are a few takeaways from their decade-plus of marriage:
- Keep it private: There’s a reason Keira stays off social media. Protecting your personal life from public opinion is a superpower.
- Support the hustle: Keira encouraged James when he almost quit music to open a microbrewery. Having a partner who believes in your creative pivots is huge.
- Don't take it too seriously: From the "recycled" wedding dress to the Renault Clio getaway car, they clearly value the experience over the optics.
Ultimately, who Keira Knightley is married to is a guy who keeps her grounded—and someone who probably still has a few neon glow sticks hidden in a drawer from his Klaxons days.