When Keira Knightley steps aboard a boat, movie magic tends to follow — whether it’s sailing the high seas in Pirates of the Caribbean or solving mysteries on a sleek, modern yacht in her new psychological thriller The Woman in Cabin 10.

But when asked which setting she preferred, the Oscar-nominated actress didn’t hesitate.

“I like a pirate ship better,” she said with a laugh. “This one was so terrifying — we were afraid we’d break something or ruin something because everything was so incredibly expensive. On a pirate ship, you don’t have to worry about that. You can get it as mucky as possible — it doesn’t matter. But on this yacht, the stress levels were high. The crew’s main job was basically to protect the yacht from us — and they did a very good job of that!”

Still, Knightley admits there was something awe-inspiring about filming aboard such a vessel.

“It was an incredible boat,” she reflected. “It’s wild to think people actually hire it and just cruise around the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. Not a bad life, really.”

Keira’s “Thriller Era”

Knightley, whose career spans action, drama, and romance, has recently been embracing darker material. With The Boston Strangler, Black Doves, and now The Woman in Cabin 10, she calls this period her “thriller moment.”

“I think they’re the kind of films I loved watching when I was a teenager,” she explained. “So now I’m just fulfilling that dream — little presents to my teenage self. I always loved those ‘70s thrillers like All the President’s Men or The Parallax View. They’re just fun. It’s what I want to watch, so it’s fun to be in.”

In The Woman in Cabin 10, Knightley plays a journalist who witnesses a woman being thrown overboard — only to be told that no such woman ever existed. The story twists between paranoia and truth, pushing her character to the brink.

“You can go to some very dark places,” she said. “But when you feel safe with your cast and crew, it’s exhilarating.”

Style on the High Seas

Even amid the film’s tension, Knightley found joy in the wardrobe — sleek, sophisticated, and sharp as the film’s tone.

“Costume says a lot about the character,” she noted. “It doesn’t do half the job for you, but it certainly helps a lot.”

Her co-star David Oyelowo also earns her approval.

“His costumes were lit,” she teased. “And he wore them very well.”

The ensemble cast — including Hannah Waddingham, Daniel Ings, Kaya Scodelario, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw — kept spirits high even while filming in confined quarters.

“We had a no a-hole policy in the casting,” Knightley joked. “And it just made life brilliant. Everyone was generous, supportive, and kind — you can really explore dark material when you feel safe like that.”

From the Caribbean to the Cabin

For Knightley, The Woman in Cabin 10 may swap the pirate flag for luxury linens, but it still carries the thrill of the unknown — and her love for storytelling that tests the limits of fear and fascination.

“Pirate ship, yacht — as long as there’s a good story,” she smiled, “I’m on board.”