Keira Knightley has labelled herself a "control freak" when talking about her insistence on maintaing her independence and control over major career decisions.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star has kept the same agents she has had since the beginning of her career and refuses to employ a host of extra staff like her Hollywood counterparts.

She told TeenHollywood: "I could get this, that and the other (person) and suddenly find that I'm not making any of the decisions. This is my name, my career, so I've got to be in some control. If I make a mistake, then I make a mistake. That's life."

"I think I'm a control freak. You can't let it all out of your hands and it keeps you in touch with real life. I'm the most disorganised person, but I'd rather be that than have somebody looking after me like a nanny. It would be freaky," the actress added.

According to another report from ANI Knightley is planning to take a sabbatical from films, as she is worried that her 'workaholic' attitude may leave her hating the film industry.

Knightley, who recently reprised her role as Elizabeth Swann in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' sequel, said that she now wants to devote some time to her personal life.

"I know I've been like a workaholic and I really don't have time for much. My greatest fear is that I'll wake up at 50 and will have worked a lot but won't have lived", she said.

"In some ways that is wonderful. I love my job. I really love what I do. But I'm quite frightened that if I continue at this rate I will start to hate what I love", she added.