Keira Knightley Reflects on Early Fame, Public Scrutiny, and Overcoming Trauma

Keira Knightley recently opened up about the challenges she faced during her early years in Hollywood, particularly the public scrutiny surrounding her weight and false claims of having an eating disorder. Speaking to The Times on November 23, the Pride & Prejudice star, now 39, revealed she has largely blocked out those experiences due to their traumatic nature.

“I knew I wasn’t [dealing with an eating disorder]. I knew I was eating,” she shared, adding, “In that classic trauma way, I don’t remember it.” Knightley described the experience as a form of public shaming that deeply impacted her psyche, given how young she was when it occurred.

Reflecting on the lack of empathy shown to stars at the time, Knightley recalled how Mary-Kate Olsen was publicly mocked after seeking treatment for anorexia in 2004. “I remember being asked about it on a press tour, like it was a joke. She was meant to be shamed for seeking help,” Knightley said. “I still can’t bear it.”

The actress has been candid about the toll fame took on her mental health. In 2018, she shared that she suffered a “mental breakdown” at age 22 and was diagnosed with PTSD due to the overwhelming pressures of stardom. Therapy became a lifeline during that difficult period.

Knightley has also reflected on feeling trapped by the way she was perceived in early roles, particularly in Pirates of the Caribbean. Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar UK in 2023, she admitted she “never felt comfortable” being portrayed as “an object of everybody’s lust” and sought roles that challenged those perceptions.

Now a mother of two, Knightley’s reflections highlight the harsh realities of growing up in the spotlight and the resilience required to overcome its challenges.