The British actress was just 17 when she starred in Love Actually. Now as it returns to our screens to stream over Christmas, fans can hardly believe it was one of her breakthrough roles.

Netflix fans couldn’t believe Black Doves star by Keira Knightley’s was in a major Christmas movie – over 20 years ago.

They have been left mesmerized by Keira’s youthful appearance in Black Doves on Netflix – and say she’s timeless.

Then fans remembered her early performances and couldn’t believe she was in Richard Curtis’ 2003 hit film Love Actually.

On said on X: “I forgot Keira was my crush in Love Actually.” Remembering an ‘iconic’ moment one fan said: “Keira Knightley watching back her wedding footage.” A third added: “I was gobsmacked with the plotline with Keira and the husband, and the best friend.” Keira herself has opened up about what it was like on set of the Richard Curtis film. One of the film’s stand-out scenes, which remains a festive staple despite its 2003 release, is when Andrew Lincoln’s character, who is in love with Kiera Knightley’s character, unexpectedly shows up at her door with cue cards.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Knightley said: “The slightly stalker-ish aspect of it — I do remember that.

“And then having to redo it to fix my face to make him seem not creepy.”They headed to The 39-year-old mom-of-two showed off her ageless beauty in Black Doves which has flown straight into the top spot on the streaming giant.

Meanwhile Black Doves fans have flocked to praise Keira, who has daughters Edie, nine, and Delilah, five, with husband James Righton, for showing off her natural beauty. They are currently watching her in Netflix spy thriller ‘Black Doves’ as politician’s wife Helen Webb, who is a secret spy and killer.

Fans didn’t miss a beat on social media either when it came to the screen siren. One Netflix subscriber wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Keira Knightley’s ageing like fine wine.” They added she was their ‘Pirate’s of the Caribbean Crush.’ A second fan wrote: “She looks so good” While a third agreed: “She is so hot in Black Doves.”

Even British Vogue took notice. They wrote: “While watching, I have been admiring Keira Knightley. She is, of course, famous for her statuesque beauty, but mostly it’s her skin that’s captured my attention. It’s clear, it’s even toned, but what struck me is the presence of actual, visible expressive lines.

“It is nothing short of refreshing to see a beautiful 39-year-old woman looking like… a beautiful 39-year-old woman. We are so used to seeing skin that has been smoothed, tweaked and tucked on screen at this point – regardless of an actor’s age – that it feels almost jarring at first to see Knightley’s face moving without restraint.”

Fashionistas have been completely enamoured by Keira’s styling for the role too. With her burgundy outfit in an opening seen a massive hit with fans,

Black Doves, a high-stakes drama series, delves into the perilous lives of a sophisticated spy organisation that has infiltrated the British Government. Previously labelled as ‘Netflix’s answer to Slow Horses’, the gripping series features Keira Knightley as Helen, a politician’s wife who is in reality a Black Dove, and Ben Wishaw as her hitman pal Sam.

The Black Doves is an espionage group that serves the highest bidder rather than any specific government body. It appears to be led by a woman known only as Reed (Sarah Lancashire), who guides Helen as she seeks to unravel the truth behind the murder of her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji).