Keira Knightley Recalls ‘Trauma’ of Constant Speculation She Had an Eating Disorder: ‘It’s Public Shaming, Isn’t It?'

Mar. 15, 2025

Keira Knightley in 2022.Photo:David M. Benett/Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/WireImage

David M. Benett/Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/WireImage

Keira Knightleyis reflecting on her younger years in the spotlight.In an interview withThe Timespublished on Saturday, Nov. 23, thePride & Prejudicestar, 39, opened up about what it was like dealing with constant speculation about her weight early in her career, as well as claims that she had an eating disorder.“I knew I wasn’t [dealing with an eating disorder]. I knew I was eating,” she said, adding that she’s since blocked out much of the experience. “In that classic trauma way I don’t remember it,” she said.Keira Knightley in 2007.Jon Furniss/WireImage"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?” the actress continued. “It’s obviously part of my psyche, given how young I was when it happened. I’ve been made around it.“The mother of twonoted that the press typically lacked empathy when dealing with stars living with disordered eating, recalling a time whenMary-Kate Olsen— whoentered rehabfor an eating disorder in 2004 — was publicly mocked.“I remember viscerally one of the Olsen twins had anorexia, and she went into a clinic. I remember being asked about it on a press tour, like it was a joke. She was meant to be shamed for seeking help for anorexia,” theLove, Actuallyactress said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I remember sitting there just being like, ‘Wow, this is wild.’ Can you imagine?” she continued, sharing that the moment made her “really emotional” despite not being about her. “I still can’t bear it,” she said.In 2018, Knightley revealed that she experienced a"mental breakdown"when she was 22, sharing that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder due to her rapid rise to fame while onThe Hollywood Reporter’sAwards Chatterpodcast.Keira Knightley in 2024.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty"I went deep into therapy and all of that, and [a therapist] said, ‘It’s amazing — I normally come in here and have people that think people are talking about them and they think that they’re being followed, but actually they’re not. You’re the first person that actually that is happening to!' " she told the host.The actress has also previously opened up about her struggles with fame. In 2023, she revealed that she"never felt comfortable"with how she was perceived in movies likePirates of the Caribbeanwhile speaking toHarper’s Bazaar UK.“I felt very constrained. I felt very stuck,” she recalled, noting that her character in thePiratesfranchise was an “object of everybody’s lust.” She then added that “the roles afterward were about trying to break out of that.“If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please go toNationalEatingDisorders.org.If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

Keira Knightleyis reflecting on her younger years in the spotlight.

In an interview withThe Timespublished on Saturday, Nov. 23, thePride & Prejudicestar, 39, opened up about what it was like dealing with constant speculation about her weight early in her career, as well as claims that she had an eating disorder.

“I knew I wasn’t [dealing with an eating disorder]. I knew I was eating,” she said, adding that she’s since blocked out much of the experience. “In that classic trauma way I don’t remember it,” she said.

Keira Knightley in 2007.Jon Furniss/WireImage

“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?” the actress continued. “It’s obviously part of my psyche, given how young I was when it happened. I’ve been made around it.”

The mother of twonoted that the press typically lacked empathy when dealing with stars living with disordered eating, recalling a time whenMary-Kate Olsen— whoentered rehabfor an eating disorder in 2004 — was publicly mocked.

“I remember viscerally one of the Olsen twins had anorexia, and she went into a clinic. I remember being asked about it on a press tour, like it was a joke. She was meant to be shamed for seeking help for anorexia,” theLove, Actuallyactress said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I remember sitting there just being like, ‘Wow, this is wild.’ Can you imagine?” she continued, sharing that the moment made her “really emotional” despite not being about her. “I still can’t bear it,” she said.

In 2018, Knightley revealed that she experienced a"mental breakdown"when she was 22, sharing that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder due to her rapid rise to fame while onThe Hollywood Reporter’sAwards Chatterpodcast.

Keira Knightley in 2024.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

“I went deep into therapy and all of that, and [a therapist] said, ‘It’s amazing — I normally come in here and have people that think people are talking about them and they think that they’re being followed, but actually they’re not. You’re the first person that actually that is happening to!' " she told the host.

The actress has also previously opened up about her struggles with fame. In 2023, she revealed that she"never felt comfortable"with how she was perceived in movies likePirates of the Caribbeanwhile speaking toHarper’s Bazaar UK.

“I felt very constrained. I felt very stuck,” she recalled, noting that her character in thePiratesfranchise was an “object of everybody’s lust.” She then added that “the roles afterward were about trying to break out of that.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please go toNationalEatingDisorders.org.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com