In a conversation with The Times, actress Keira Knightley pondered on her early fame, invasive media attention. She also spoke about the reason why she stepped back from the spotlight in her twenties. Knightley garnered popularity for her roles in hit films like ‘Bend it like Beckham’, ‘Love Actually’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The ‘Boston Strangler’ star said the sudden spotlight on her, during a young age, really took a toll on her mental health.
Keira Knightley opens up about fame, anxiety, and paparazzi in new interview
As per the times, she recalled, “I remember waking up one day and there were ten men outside my front door – and they didn’t leave for about five years.” Keira Knightley, was followed relentlessly by tabloids and photographers who often used aggressive tactics to get her attention. She looked back on those times and recalled that she was called “Whore,” more than often. ‘The atonement’ star remarked that the abuse would increase whenever the press would see her with male relatives or partners.
Keira shared that her coping mechanism was being hyper-vigilant. “I knew people were following me. It was a physical feeling,” she said. She further added that she would regularly check newspapers to confirm she had been photographed. Even though she did not see anyone clicking pictures directly. The actress described the time from the 1990s to 2010s as a difficult time for female celebrities, remembering instances related to Amy Winehouse and Britney Spears.
Despite putting up a strong front and never breaking down in public, Knightley told the times, “Oh, I did go mad. Believe me. I went mad. I just managed to hide it.”
In response to the public criticism and scrutiny, Knightley opted for what she called ‘passive resistance’. The Anna Karenina star, would wear the same outfit repeatedly and refused to move when she would be followed. She spoke about standing still for hours to diminish the value of paparazzi photographs. Consequently, after several years, at the peak of her successful career, she walked away.
Her later professional journey comprised character-driven roles, theatre and smaller films. She explained, that the point was to continue doing what she loved but “in a way that is smaller.” The 40 year old spoke to the Times ahead of her role in Netflix’s ‘Black Doves’.
