In 2019, Knightley co-starred in "The Aftermath", a film adaption of the novel by Rhidian Brook, alongside Alexander Skarsgård. While promoting it, Knightley said she chose to no longer appear nude in film after having a child. The film and Knightley received mixed reviews. "The Boston Globe"s Ty Burr praised Knightley for adding "conviction, grace, heart, and nerve" to the film, while the "Los Angeles Times" Katie Walsh felt Knightley and Skarsgård were too reserved. Knightley played Katharine Gun in "Official Secrets", which was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 28 January 2019 to positive reviews. The following year, she portrayed the feminist activist Sally Alexander in "Misbehaviour", a film about the crowning of the first black Miss World contestant at the 1970 Miss World competition. In 2020, Knightley was attached to star in and produce an Apple TV+ adaptation of English author Sarah Perry's novel "The Essex Serpent", but later dropped out due to concerns about access to childcare during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic.