Keira Knightley is set to star in and executive produce a TV adaption of the bestselling historical novel The Essex Serpent

She recently committed to her first starring TV role as 'devilish' secretary Odalie in The Other Typist.

And Keira Knightley showed her future is on the small screen as she signed on to star and executive produce in an another series for Apple TV.

The actress, 35, will play the lead role in an adaptation of The Essex Serpent, a period drama based on the bestselling novel by Sarah Perry. 

Exciting: Keira Knightley will play the lead role in an adaptation of The Essex Serpent, a period drama based on the bestselling novel by Sarah Perry

The series will be set in Victorian England in 1893, with Keira playing the role of Cora Seaborne.

The new widow escapes from her abusive marriage and moves from London to the village of Aldwinter in Essex.

There, she is intrigued by the local folklore that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned.   

Big hit: The series will be set in Victorian England in 1893, with Keira playing the role of Cora Seaborne

It comes after the Atonement actress announced she will take on the role of 'devilish' secretary Odalie in The Other Typist - the TV adaptation of a novel by Suzanne Rindell.

Other than a role in one of two miniseries, these will be Knightley's first major TV commitments.

The actress, while fully established as a movie star, has yet to truly follow in the path of so many other Hollywood actors in trying out television.

Turning to telly: Keira is set to take the starring role in a TV show for the first time in her acting career

Acclaimed shows such as Big Little Lies, The Witcher, Carnival Row and Catherine The Great have seen the likes of Nicole Kidman, Henry Cavill, Orlando Bloom and Helen Mirren respectively turn to the small screen in recent years.

Knightley is known for roles in major films such as Love Actually, Pride & Prejudice, Colette and the Pirates Of The Caribbean series. 

The Other Typist is being produced by Hulu, with Knightley also serving as executive producer.

'Glamorous-yet-treacherous': The Atonement actress, 35, will take on the role of 'devilish' secretary Odalie in The Other Typist

Adaptation: The series is a TV adaptation of a novel by Suzanne Rindell, and was pitched by Knightley herself

The plot sees the character of Rose - an unassuming, strait-laced police department typist - become intoxicated by Knightley's character Odalie, who joins the typing pool as her colleague.

Glamorous-yet-treacherous Odalie begins leading Rose into her world outside of the office, drawing her into her shady lifestyle.

It's then that a crime takes place, putting both women in a troubling position, and showing Rose in a whole new light.

Silver screen to small screen: Knightley is known for roles in major films such as Love Actually, Pride & Prejudice, Colette and the Pirates Of The Caribbean series the latter is

Period piece: She has been known to play a series of roles, including that of ghost writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette in 2018's Colette

The story is set in New York City during the Prohibition era and is described as 'a psycho-sexual suspense thriller that turns on themes of identity, class, obsession and misplaced (or misunderstood) desire'.

Empire and The L Word writer Ilene Chaiken serves as showrunner - although Knightley is said to have pitched the book to Searchlight Television and 20th Century Fox Television as a potential series.

The book was originally published in 2013 and was novelist Rindell's first outing.