Fame is both a gift and a curse for those who possess it, something that actress Keira Knightley learned the hard way. In an interview with The Times, she talked about how she often came face-to-face with the paparazzi and other creepy individuals because of her fame. But to combat this, she developed awareness over time that helped her tremendously, saying:
...Britney shaved her head so it was like, ‘Great — we can push them into doing something f***ing crazy.’ …but then they rented out the apartment opposite mine. So we couldn’t use the front of the apartment because they could see in [with telephoto lenses]. My dad said, ‘You should be in the CIA,’ because I knew when people were following me. It was a physical feeling.
After her successful roles in many projects, including the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, it was natural for her to become the target of tabloids and other outlets that wanted something new and spicy to sell to the audience. And it all began with her career taking a turn when she joined the franchise led by Johnny Depp.
Pirates of the Caribbean Was Keira Knightley’s Ladder to Global Recognition
Apart from her role as a child actor in Star Wars Episode 1: A Phantom Menace, actress Keira Knightley wasn’t a very popular name outside of the UK and Europe. Thus, when she was cast as one of the main cast in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, it became a global stage for the actress to show the world what she could do.
She played the role of Elizabeth Swann, the spirited daughter of a governor who evolved into a pirate. The role had everything from romance and action to emotional depth, which showcased her versatility early in her career. And despite the films being extremely demanding and dangerous to film for her, she managed to pull through.
Thus, with the release of the first film, she became an instant hit with audiences all across the globe, despite just being 17 years old back then. Along with international fame, she also received a hefty payday for the next two films, as well as other opportunities that helped her become financially stronger.
But at the same time, the franchise also felt that her role in the franchise became constricting, as typecasting her into similar characteristics made it harder for her to create a new image of herself post-Pirates exit. Thus, the franchise proved to be both a boon and a bane in similar measures for Knightley.
Will Keira Knightley Return for Pirates of the Caribbean 6?
At this point in time, it has been revealed that original franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer is in the process of bringing a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot film to life. He also revealed how they were positive that Johnny Depp was even interested in being a part of that film if the script was good.
But when it comes to others like Knightley and Orlando Bloom, who played the role of Will Turner in the franchise, there have been no concrete confirmations yet. And with her past comments about wanting to create a separate image from her time in the film series, it seems highly unlikely.
Even in her most recent comments (via People), she is sticking to her guns, claiming that her “Pirating days are over.” Therefore, it seems like she isn’t returning to her role ever.
Here’s more information about the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
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