Keira Knightley has done some of the most mesmerizing and inspiring roles throughout her career. From Pirates of the Caribbean to Pride and Prejudice, you give the lady a corset and she makes it worth a while. Out of all the roles she has played, it is her charming smile that warms the hearts of the audience forevermore.
Her career began at a very young age, showcasing her talent from her time as a kid. Her talent has only grown since and now she stands as one of the most skilled and liked actresses. However, there was one movie that was caked in controversies surrounding the actress. Especially taking into consideration her age. Keira Knightley was only eighteen when she filmed Love Actually.
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Keira Knightley was Only 18 in Love Actually
Love Actually’s director Richard Curtis attracted a lot of hate and backlash after having hired Keira Knightley for the role of Juliet. The actress was only eighteen when she was cast and she was to play love interests to actors who were twenty-six and thirty respectively. Ironically enough, Thomas-Brodie Sangster was playing a schoolboy at that time when he was only five years younger than her.
“I’m really interested in whether or not I would think ‘don’t do that’ now. And that actually now we probably wouldn’t have gotten someone as young as Kiera was in.”
Fans were extremely unhappy after learning about the massive age gap that entailed the cast. Curtis faced major backlash for the same, being told that the decision to cast her had been wrong and absurd seeing how she was basically a child in front of two grown men who were to play her love interests. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Andrew Lincoln were eight and twelve years older than her. When Curtis was asked about the same, he confirmed, as per LADBible, that the casting could have been much different were the movie to be made now instead of 2003.
Richard Curtis Doesn’t Regret His Decision
Richard Curtis explained candidly that despite how times have changed, he does not exactly regret casting Keira Knightley. The director confirmed that he found her casting to be perfect.
“The great thing now is that everybody is bold enough to say anything they don’t particularly like in what you do – kind of gives you a filter these days.” He continued, “But on the other hand, I’m thrilled we cast Keira because I thought she was perfect. And I don’t think she reads in the film as being a teenager, I think she reads as being about 23. But it’s interesting that they were far apart.”
He stated that Knightley never really saw the role in an immature sense. Rather she envisioned herself as an adult able to take on a role like that. He even found it to be perfect.
