Keira Knightley admits she has ''chilled out an awful lot'' in recent years.

The British actress, who shot to fame in 'Bend It Like Beckham' when she was 18, says playing troubled characters in movies like 'Anna Karenina' took a toll on her, but she has finally learned how to relax off set.

She said: ''In each of my [recent] films, I either died or was subjected to a new situation that was more horrific than the last.

''I was spending so much time being neurotic and beating myself up. [Eventually I realised I] might get further by just going, 'Oh f**k it.' ''

Keira, who married The Klaxons rocker James Righton in front of just 11 friends and family members in France in May 2013, signed up for her upcoming feel-good film, 'Begin Again,' as she ''wanted more positive vibrations.''

Despite her huge success, the 29-year-old beauty only recent made peace with her decision to be an actress.

She told the digital June edition of Modern Luxury's Beach magazine: ''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 I build who I am.''

The 'Pirates of Caribbean' star is determined to maintain a private life and explained why she quit Twitter after just 12 hours.

She said: ''It made me feel a little bit like being in a school playground and not being popular. I like being private.''