Keira Knightley Recalls Paparazzi "Stalking and Abuse" at Peak of Her Career

In a recent interview, acclaimed actress Keira Knightley has recounted the harrowing experience of being "stalked and abused" by paparazzi at the height of her career. Knightley, who rose to fame after starring in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, describes how the intense media scrutiny she faced as an 18-year-old turned into a "nightmare."

Knightley reveals that paparazzi would frequently hurl insults at her, shouting "whore" and "slut," particularly if she was accompanied by a boyfriend, family member, or friend. The paparazzi were reportedly trying to provoke a reaction, hoping to capture a sensational photograph that could be sold for a high price. Knightley also says the photographers would go to dangerous lengths, even forcing people off the roads, just to get a salacious shot of the young actress.

Feeling increasingly trapped and overwhelmed, Knightley resorted to clever tactics to make herself less valuable to the tabloids. She began wearing the same clothes every day, giving away her wardrobe and sticking to a simple uniform of striped t-shirts, jeans, and boots. If she was being followed, Knightley would simply stand still, sometimes for up to five hours, rendering the paparazzi's efforts fruitless.

The relentless pursuit eventually forced Knightley to step away from acting for a time, with her family urging her to "just walk." She traveled across Europe by train, finding solace in the anonymity of museums and public spaces, where she could "kind of slither" unnoticed. Reflecting on that period, Knightley says the experience of being a young woman in the public eye was "a brutal time."