Turn back time: the best British period dramas -

"I also like the idea of breathing life back into what is gone. In a funny way, it's resurrecting the dead." Keira Knightley is one of Britain's best actresses, and she always stuns in period dramas. The actress recently told the BBC why the genre is so appealing to her.

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'Pride & Prejudice' - Join Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet in 'Pride & Prejudice,' a classic love story set in 19th century England.

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'The King’s Speech' - Colin Firth plays King George VI in this Oscar-winning drama. He must overcome his stutter to address the nation ahead of World War II.

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'The Duchess' - Keira Knightley returns in 'The Duchess,' playing an aristocrat who was hated for her politics and personal life.

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'Sense and Sensibility' - Austen’s classic novel was brought to life, with star performances from Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman.

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'The Young Victoria' -

Emily Blunt plays Queen Victoria in this gripping period drama, which traces the monarch’s relationship with Prince Albert.

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'The Other Boleyn Girl' -

Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson star as sisters in this drama, both gunning for the affection of King Henry VIII.

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'Vanity Fair' -

Reese Witherspoon stars as Becky, a social climber who goes from poverty to Britain’s ruling class.

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'Miss Austen Regrets' -

Olivia Williams stars as Jane Austen herself in this drama, in which the novelist finds a husband for her niece.

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'Belle' - Dido Elizabeth Belle is a lesser-known historical figure. Gugu Mbatha-Raw helps tell her story in this gripping period drama.

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'Miss Potter' -

Everyone knows her stories and illustrations, but 'Miss Potter' introduced audiences to the woman behind the famous children's books: Beatrix Potter.

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'Victoria & Abdul' -

Dench returns as Queen Victoria in this comedy-drama that tells the true story of her relationship with Indian Muslim servant Abdul Karim.

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'Amazing Grace' -

'Amazing Grace' tells the unbelievable true story of William Wilberforce, a politician who battled to end the British slave trade.  

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'Mrs Brown' -

Judi Dench also stars in this hit drama, which tells the story of Queen Victoria’s secret relationship with trusted servant Mr. Brown.

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'Jane Eyre' -

In this Austen adaptation, Mia Wasikowska stars alongside the inimitable Michael Fassbender.

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'Anne of the Thousand Days' -

This film tells the story of Henry VIII’s choice to leave Catherine of Aragon, and his pursuit of the young Anne Boleyn.

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'Elizabeth' -

Cate Blanchett brings the energy in 'Elizabeth,' a fiery film about Elizabeth I’s transition from house arrest to being crowned Queen of England.

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'Emma' -

Gwyneth Paltrow is a delight in 'Emma,' a Jane Austen adaptation about a 19th century English woman who finds partners for her friends and neighbours.

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'Northanger Abbey' -

This TV movie tells the story of Catherine Morland, a girl who becomes obsessed with gothic novels, as well as with the charming suitor Henry Tilney.

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'Persuasion' -

In 'Persuasion,' Sally Hawkins stars as Anne Elliot, a woman who rejects a suitor, only to romantically reconnect with him eight years later.

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‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’ -

If you want a change of pace, check out 'Master and Commander.' Russell Crowe stars as a British ship captain who battles French forces during the Napoleonic Wars.

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'Bright Star' -

'Bright Star' finds John Keats (Ben Whishaw) locked in a secret three-year romance with Fanny Brawne.

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'Young Bess' -

'Young Bess' follows Elizabeth I from her early life to her accession to the throne.

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'Lady Jane' -

Helena Bonham Carter plays Lady Jane Grey in this gripping biopic, which follows the monarch from her humble beginnings to taking the crown.

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‘The Return of the Native’ -

Thomas Hardy’s novel gets brought to life here, with a killer performance from Catherine Zeta-Jones as Eustacia Vye.

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'Captain Blood' -

'Captain Blood' follows Peter Blood, a normal everyman who is banished from England and thus becomes a vicious pirate.

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'Under the Greenwood Tree' -

Keeley Hawes stars in this light-hearted romance, which centres on a school teacher who crosses paths with three different suitors.

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'The Last of the Mohicans' -

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Hawkeye, a trapper who has sworn to protect the daughter of a British colonel.

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'Finding Neverland' -

In 'Finding Neverland,' Johnny Depp is J.M. Barrie, the revered writer behind 'Peter Pan.'

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'A Room with a View' -

'A Room with a View' stars big name actors like Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, and Helena Bonham Carter.

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'Stage Beauty' -

Claire Danes and Billy Crudup share the screen in 'Stage Beauty,' a gripping film that blends stage drama with real-world revolution.

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