Keira Knightley Says Teenage Fame Financially 'Set Me Up for Life' but 'Came at a Big Cost' Personally

Mar. 15, 2025

Keira Knightley at the premiere of ‘Black Doves’ at the BFI Southbank on December 03, 2024 in London.Photo:Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Keira Knightleyis reflecting on her early successes in the film industry.

In a new interview withThe Los Angeles Times,published Thursday, Dec. 5, the actress, 39, spoke about how becoming a breakout star in her teenage years, thanks to movies such asPirates of the Caribbean,Bend It Like BeckhamandLove Actually,set her “up for life.”

“It’s very brutal to have your privacy taken away in your teenage years, early 20s, and to be put under that scrutiny at a point when you are still growing,” she said.

“Having said that, I wouldn’t have the financial stability or the career that I do now without that period,” Knightley continued. “I had a five-year period between the age of 17 and 21-ish, and I’m never going to have that kind of success again. It totally set me up for life. Did it come at a cost? Yes, it did.”

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From Left: Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann and Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.Greg Gorman/Walt Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

Greg Gorman/Walt Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

“It came at abigcost. Knowing the cost, could I, in all good conscience, say to my kid, you should do that? No,” she added. “But am I grateful for it? Yes. But then that’s life, isn’t it? Luckily, my kids are completely uninterested.”

Knightley was just 18 years old when she starred inPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlandLove Actuallyin 2003.

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She went on to star in two back-to-backPiratessequels: 2006’sDead Man’s Chestand 2007’sAt World’s End.

Knightley played the role of Elizabeth Swann inPirates of the Caribbean,as well as Juliet inLove Actually.

Keira Knightley at the premiere of ‘Black Doves’ on December 3, 2024 in London.Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

Diving more into the personal cost of her success, Knightley revealed that she was a victim of stalking at a young age.

“I didn’t think it was okay at the time,” she toldThe Los Angeles Times. “I was very clear on it being absolutely shocking.”

The star went on to say that social media has also contributed to promoting public shaming towards young women. “A lot of teenage girls don’t survive that,” she said.

source: people.com