The fantasy adventure series featured a powerhouse cast including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Knightley herself, and first hit theaters in 2003 with The Curse of the Black Pearl.
What started as one swashbuckling film soon exploded into a global phenomenon, growing into a five-movie franchise worth billions by the time it wrapped up in 2017.
She was only 17 when she filmed the first movie and essentially came of age on camera, appearing in multiple sequels including Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, and Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Speaking with Variety, the mother of two admitted that the sudden fame and public scrutiny were deeply overwhelming, describing the entire experience as ‘traumatic.’
“You’re in some ways still a child. It was traumatic, but it set up the rest of my career.”
The pressure of global fame at such a young age eventually became so intense that Knightley turned to therapy. In her early twenties, she underwent hypnotherapy to help her process the anxiety and trauma that had built up during those years.
“I did have a mental breakdown at 22, so I did take a year off there and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder because of all of that stuff. I went deep into therapy and all of that,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018.
Over time, Knightley said she began to rebuild her confidence and eventually found a healthier relationship with fame. Speaking to Variety that same year, she said she now feels ‘lucky’ to enjoy her career at a calmer pace and at a level of attention that feels much more manageable.
Despite finding peace with her fame, Knightley admitted in a recent interview on BBC Radio 2’s The Scott Mills Breakfast Show that she rarely re-watches her own movies. She revealed that there’s one Pirates of the Caribbean film she’s never gone back to see.
“It’s funny because my relationship with a piece of work is obviously different from people viewing it,” Knightley said, adding: “What’s wonderful about those films is they have become people’s favorites and they watch them again and again and again and again.”
When asked specifically about Pirates of the Caribbean, the actress admitted that she’s never seen the third film in the series. She explained her reasoning with a bit of humor.
“I just feel there’s too much face. There’s just such a lot of face,” she joked. “Really close up, large face.”
