Keira Knightley opens up about eating disorder rumors and mental health struggles from early fame

Keira Knightley is opening up about the challenges of early fame and the trauma caused by public speculation about her weight. In an interview with The Times published on November 23, 2024, the 39-year-old actress shared her experiences with eating disorder rumors that followed her early career.

"I knew I wasn't [dealing with an eating disorder]. I knew I was eating," Knightley said, adding that she has blocked out much of the experience due to its traumatic nature. "In that classic trauma way I don’t remember it,” she continued. Reflecting on the impact, Knightley described it as “public shaming” that became a significant part of her psyche during her formative years.

The lack of empathy she witnessed extended beyond her own experiences. Knightley recalled a 2004 incident involving Mary-Kate Olsen, who entered rehab for anorexia. "I remember viscerally one of the Olsen twins had anorexia... I remember being asked about it on a press tour, like it was a joke," she said. This moment left a lasting emotional impact, prompting Knightley to criticize the media’s treatment of celebrities seeking help for eating disorders.

The pressures of fame took a toll on Knightley’s mental health. In 2018, she revealed that she suffered a mental breakdown at 22 and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter podcast, she explained how therapy helped her navigate the constant attention. "You’re the first person that actually [has people talking about them and following them]," she recalled her therapist saying.

Reflecting on her career, Knightley noted feeling constrained by roles like her Pirates of the Caribbean character, which she described as an “object of lust.” Subsequent roles, she said, were a deliberate attempt to break free of that image. Her experiences highlight the lasting impact of public scrutiny on celebrities and the importance of empathy in media coverage.