Keira Knightley Was “Stalked by Men” Following ‘Pirates’ Success

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As a movie reviewer who has had the pleasure of witnessing the evolution of Keira Knightley‘s illustrious career, I must say that her new series, “Black Doves,” is not just another feather in her cap but a testament to her resilience and strength.

It must not have been simple to be a young, prominent actress like Keira Knightley, especially during her time as a key figure in the highly acclaimed Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The public wasn’t always understanding or reserved about their opinions at that time.

In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times for her new series “Black Doves”, Knightley openly discusses the struggles she faced due to the fame she encountered early on. She elaborates on the challenging mental and emotional impact of receiving unwanted, inappropriate comments and attention, predominantly from men, at such a formative age. In doing so, the actress powerfully emphasizes the importance of addressing the way women are portrayed in our culture.

As a passionate cinephile, I’d say it’s incredibly harsh to have one’s privacy invaded during the formative years of adolescence and the early twenties. To endure such intense scrutiny at a time when personal growth is still in progress can be overwhelming, as I experienced firsthand while working alongside Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp.

Public Discourse Around Womens’ Bodies Affects Women — Famous Or Not

In 2003, when the first movie was launched, Keira Knightley was just 18, still in her adolescence. Rapidly skyrocketing to fame at such a young age can be both exhilarating and challenging, especially for women who are deemed sexually attractive by men. In fact, it’s not even favorable for those who don’t fall into that category: they face criticism for not meeting those expectations as well. This unfair scenario, where women are judged based on their sexual appeal, is harmful and unjust. It’s important to remember that no woman should be objectified solely for male pleasure. Such treatment diminishes her individuality and makes her feel like she’s merely a commodity to be consumed.

Knightley acknowledges the psychological tension that comes with achieving such early success and how, despite the hardships she experienced, it laid the foundation for her current financial security and career. In her own words, “I wouldn’t be where I am financially or professionally without that time in my life.” She went on to say, “During those five years, between 17 and about 21, I won’t ever have a similar level of success again. It provided me with an unparalleled foundation for the rest of my life.

Still: “Did it come at a cost? Yes, it did. It came at a big cost.”

Discussing the sort of comments she suffered through, the thing that rattled her the most was how violent and blatantly misogynistic the surrounding discourse around her looks and body and own autonomy were. “There was an amount of gaslighting to be told by a load of men that ‘you wanted this,'” she explained. “It was rape speak. You know, ‘This is what you deserve.’ It was a very violent, misogynistic atmosphere.”

She went on to explain, “They made it clear they wanted me to be pursued by men. Whether this was due to someone’s mental illness or for monetary gain, it felt the same to me. It was a harsh period in my life to be a young woman under public scrutiny.

She added, plainly, that:

“I didn’t think it was OK at the time. I was very clear on it being absolutely shocking.”

This sort of thing is exactly why so many people out there today praise young women for speaking out against the sort of comments they are expected to just suffer through if they’re famous — like recent comments from musician Chappell Roan. The rise of social media has only added to the discourse in a toxic, more parasocial manner. Or, as Knightley put it, “social media has put that in a whole other context, when you look at the damage that’s been done to young women, to teenage girls. Ultimately, that’s what fame is — it’s being publicly shamed. A lot of teenage girls don’t survive that.”

It’s comforting to see the actress is managing it well now, and we encourage more individuals to express their opposition towards offensive and potentially harmful remarks that get casually posted online, disregarding the impact such comments may have on the person they are directed at—regardless of their celebrity status.

You can next see Keira Knightley in
Black Doves
, which premieres on December 5 on Netflix.

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2024-12-05 22:32