Keira Knightley Opens Up About Public Shaming and Mental Health Struggles Amid Early Fame

Actress Keira Knightley has recently shared her experiences of facing intense public scrutiny and mental health struggles during the early days of her career. In an interview with The Times published on November 23, Knightley reflected on the constant speculation by the media and the public that she had an eating disorder. Despite knowing she wasn’t dealing with an eating disorder, the relentless focus on her appearance was deeply hurtful and traumatic.

Knightley, now 39, recalled the period in the early 2000s when mental health was not as openly discussed as it is today. She mentioned the case of Mary-Kate Olsen, who was mocked after entering rehab for an eating disorder in 2004. Knightley expressed her emotional response to such public shaming, stating that it was ‘wild’ and ‘made me really emotional’ to see someone being criticized for seeking help for anorexia.

The actress also discussed her own mental health struggles, including a ‘mental breakdown’ at the age of 22, shortly after achieving worldwide fame with roles in films like Bend It Like Beckham, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Love Actually. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the pressures of her early success and felt like she ‘didn’t exist’ and was a ‘weird creature’ that people responded to in extreme ways.

Knightley highlighted the importance of her supportive background and relationships during that time. She credited her loving family and ‘lovely boyfriends’ for providing her with the necessary support. Her experiences have led her to speak out about the challenges of early fame and the need for a more compassionate and understanding public discourse around mental health and body image issues.