As someone who burst into the fame spotlight at just 17, with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean‘, two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley has ruled out returning to blockbuster franchises. Speaking to ‘The Times of London‘, Knightley reflected on the complex relationship she has had with time spent in the wildly successful film series.
Her starring role as Elizabeth Swann in the film alongside Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom propelled her to fame in the early 2000s. However, even while she was basking in success, Knightley spoke about how it affected her. Here’s everything she said.
Keira Knightley Reveals Why She Would Never Take Up High-Stake Roles In Blockbuster Banners
Speaking about how her fame acted as a double-edged sword for her during a recent interview, Keira Knightley said, “It’s a funny thing when you have something that was making and breaking you at the same time.”
“I was seen as sh– because of them, and yet because they did so well I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for,” she explained, referencing ‘Pride & Prejudice‘ and ‘The Imitation Game‘, two more successful films that she was an important part of.
For Knightley, ‘Pirates‘ was her biggest career achievement, and yet the source of intense public scrutiny. “They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So they’re a very confused place in my head,” she said.
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While she credits the franchise for opening doors, Knightley is firm about not going back to those kinds of high-stakes projects. “The hours are insane,” she said. “It’s years of your life, you have no control over where you’re filming, how long you’re filming, what you’re filming.” She made it amply clear that the grueling nature of blockbuster films is something she no longer wants to endure.
Keira Knightley Talks About The Importance Given To Mental Health Issues In Her Early Career Days
During the same interview, Keira Knightley also opened up about the pressures of fame during an age where at least body image and mental health were not discussed with the care that they are today. Recalling tabloid speculation about her appearance, she said, “I knew I wasn’t [suffering from an eating disorder] … in that classic trauma way I don’t remember it. There’s been a complete delete.”
In case you missed it: ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ Producer Confirms Franchise Is Getting A ‘Reboot’ With Sixth Movie
After taking a step back from acting to raise her two daughters with husband and musician James Righton, Knightley is now returning to the screen in Netflix’s spy-thriller series ‘Black Doves‘, which premieres December 5.
Starring opposite Ben Whishaw, Knightley’s latest role promises to be another complex performance in a genre that allows her to explore new depths, far removed from the swashbuckling days of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean‘.
