Keira Knightley Did Not Fit in Her Clothes After Boxing and Knife Fighting For 90 Days For Her Movie Role
Keira Knightley’s illustrious career has been marked by her captivating presence in two iconic and beloved film franchises: Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean. These groundbreaking roles served as stepping stones to her remarkable journey through the entertainment industry. Yet, it is crucial to recognize that Knightley’s talents extend far beyond these franchise appearances. She has graced the silver screen with her versatility, exhibiting exceptional skill across a multitude of genres.
Her ascent began at a young age, and this early start provided her with invaluable insights into the complexities of the entertainment world. Navigating the industry as a budding star shaped her perspective on the expectations and pressures faced by young artists, instilling in her a resilience that would serve her well throughout her career. The 2000s marked a pivotal period in Knightley’s journey, where she demonstrated her commitment to her craft by fully immersing herself in her roles. Notably, she embraced a transformative challenge that required her to undergo a physical transformation for a particular character.
Keira Knightley’s Physical Transformation for Her Role in King Arthur
In 2004, the highly anticipated film King Arthur was on the horizon, featuring a star-studded cast including Keira Knightley, Clive Owen, and Stellan Skarsgard. While Knightley’s involvement in the project demanded a notable physical transformation, her enthusiasm for the role and her commitment to the director’s vision was unwavering. Embracing the challenge with open arms, Knightley embraced the directive to alter her appearance for the role. The directors’ instructions were clear: “Bulk up.”
Knightley dove headfirst into the demanding task, driven by her passion for the craft and her desire to fully inhabit her character. As per Knightley, she was advised to increase her size, leading to a noticeable change as she went up a dress size. This change made her feel proud, but eventually, some of her clothes became too tight to wear.
The journey toward achieving the desired physique was no small feat. In the lead-up to filming, Knightley immersed herself in a rigorous three-month training regimen. The training encompassed a diverse array of physical activities, ranging from weightlifting to combat training. Engaging in intense sessions of lifting weights, practicing punches, and mastering knife-fighting techniques, Knightley pushed her boundaries and ventured into uncharted territory—focusing extensively on building her upper body strength, a realm unfamiliar to her.
Keira Knightley’s Resilience in the Face of Body Comments
Having been a part of major film franchises like Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean, Keira Knightley’s journey in the entertainment industry has undoubtedly been impressive. However, fame and success often come at a price, and Keira Knightley has had her fair share of dealing with the harsh realities of public scrutiny and the unfiltered opinions of others. The realm of physical appearance has proven to be a particularly challenging territory for Knightley to navigate.
In a world where social media provides a platform for both adulation and criticism, fans and even interviewers have not hesitated to voice their opinions about her body. The paradoxical nature of celebrity means that one’s life is often lived in the spotlight, subject to both praise and criticism from a faceless audience.
“There was a very long time when [interviewers] were all: ‘Well you’re a sh*t actress and you’re anorexic and people hate you’ which, for a teenager or somebody in their early 20s, is a very strange thing.”
Keira Knightley’s ability to weather the storm of public commentary while staying true to her artistic integrity exemplifies her strength of character. The landscape of the industry has been undergoing changes, aiming to ensure that the upcoming generation of young talents will not encounter the same challenges that Knightley and numerous others had to face during their rise in Hollywood.
Source: The Things
