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Keira Knightley Reflects on Early Career Body-Shaming and Its Lasting Impact: ‘It’s Public Shaming, Isn’t It?’
Nov
Keira Knightley, celebrated for her roles in Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, is opening up about the trauma she faced as tabloids speculated about her weight and spread rumors of anorexia in her early career. In a candid interview with The Times, the now 39-year-old actress looked back on the public scrutiny she endured during her 20s and its lasting effects on her mental health.
Public Scrutiny and Body-Shaming
“I knew I wasn’t [anorexic]. I knew I was eating,” Knightley said of the relentless tabloid speculation. “In that classic trauma way, I don’t remember it. There’s been a complete delete, and then some things will come up, and I’ll suddenly have a very bodily memory of it because, ultimately, it’s public shaming, isn’t it? It’s obviously part of my psyche, given how young I was when it happened.”
Knightley’s rise to stardom brought intense media attention, which she has previously said led to a “mental breakdown” at age 22. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the actress took a year-long break from acting to focus on her mental health.
Witnessing Harmful Attitudes
Knightley also recalled witnessing how dismissive and harmful societal attitudes were toward mental health and eating disorders at the time. She described the shock she felt during a press tour when asked about Mary-Kate Olsen’s struggles with anorexia, which the former child star sought treatment for in 2004.
“I remember viscerally… she was meant to be shamed for seeking help for anorexia,” Knightley said. “I remember sitting there just being like, ‘Wow, this is wild.’ Can you imagine?”
Reflecting on that moment, Knightley became emotional. “That’s not even about me, it’s about her. I still can’t bear it.”
Finding Support and Healing
Knightley credits her family, friends, and therapy for helping her navigate that difficult period. “The unbelievably lucky thing was I come from an incredibly loving background, and I always had really nice boyfriends,” she shared. “I had lovely, lovely boyfriends.”
She previously addressed the speculation in a 2006 interview with the Associated Press, where she denied being anorexic while acknowledging her family’s history with the condition. “My grandmother and great-grandmother suffered from it, and I had a lot of friends at school who suffered from it,” she said at the time. “I know it’s not something to be taken lightly and I don’t.”
Advocating for Change
Now, Knightley’s reflections highlight the harmful impact of public scrutiny on mental health and the importance of evolving societal attitudes. While she continues to process her own experiences, her words serve as a reminder of the need for compassion, understanding, and support for those facing personal struggles in the public eye.
