Keira Knightley Reflects on Fame, Family, And Why She Won’t Return to Franchise Films

Keira Knightley’s fame skyrocketed with the Pirates of the Caribbean series, but she’s not looking to revisit that lifestyle. In a recent interview, she explained how motherhood has shifted her career focus, stating she can’t travel for work anymore. Knightley, who played Elizabeth Swann, acknowledges the franchise’s role in her success but also its toll on her public image. She’s made it clear that the demands of another franchise are just not for her anymore.

Keira Knightley’s rise to fame was increased by her role in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, but the actress has no intention of returning to such multi-film series.

The actress, who starred in multiple Pirates movies from 2003 to 2007, revealed why she will not sign on for another multiple-film franchise in an interview with the UK’s Times published on Saturday. Knightley shared that she has become more particular about her career choices after welcoming two daughters, Edie and Delilah, with her husband, James Righton.

“I couldn’t go job to job abroad now,” Knightley explained. “I wouldn’t be in any way fair to them, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve chosen to have children, I want to bring them up, so I’ve had to take a major step back.”

Knightley went on to reflect on her years making the Pirates films, in which she starred as Elizabeth Swann. The actress credits the hit series of movies for making her into a household name but also cites the franchise’s popularity as “the reason that I was taken down publicly.”

“It’s a funny thing when you have something that was making and breaking you at the same time,” Knightley said about the franchise, which also starred Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. “I was seen as shit because of them, and yet because they did so well I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for. They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of, and they were the reason that I was taken down publicly. So they’re a very confused place in my head.”

The experience was so jarring that Knightley has no interest in returning to movie franchises, “The hours are insane. It’s years of your life, you have no control over where you’re filming, how long you’re filming, what you’re filming.”

While franchise work is off the table, Knightley is set to star in Netflix’s upcoming thriller ‘Black Doves,’where she plays a British spy embroiled in a risky romance. Looking ahead, The Oscar nominee shared that she is now looking for roles that are “pure entertainment.” Moving away from the heavier themes that dominated her past work. “I’ve been really surprised in the past few years about what I’ve said no to,” she revealed. “Maybe that’s because I’ve needed that- more entertainment and less tragedy.”

“I’ve been really surprised in the past few years about what I’ve said no to,” Knightley told reporters. “I’ve wanted it to be more pure entertainment and maybe that’s because I’ve needed that. I keep being offered things about children dying or about mothers dying, can’t do it.”

Erizia Rubyjeana

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