Keira Knightley became very famous for her role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, but she says she has no interest in returning to long movie franchises.
Knightley, who played Elizabeth Swann in several Pirates films between 2003 and 2007, explained why she will not take on another long-term movie series in a recent interview with the Times in the U.K. She shared that her career choices have changed after having two daughters, Edie and Delilah, with her husband, James Righton.
“I couldn’t go job to job [abroad] now,” Knightley said. “I wouldn’t be fair to them, and I wouldn’t want to. I’ve chosen to have children, I want to raise them, so I’ve had to step back.”
Looking back at her time in the Pirates movies, Knightley said that while the franchise helped make her a household name, it also caused some public struggles. “It’s funny when you have something that’s both making and breaking you at the same time,” she explained. She noted that despite her success with Pirates, she was criticized by some, but the fame also gave her the chance to land roles in films that earned her Oscar nominations. “They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of, but also the reason I was taken down publicly,” she said, calling it a confusing experience.
Knightley also pointed out the tough realities of working on big movie franchises: “The hours are insane. It’s years of your life, you have no control over where you’re filming, how long you’re filming, or what you’re filming.”
Although she won’t be joining another movie franchise, Knightley is excited about her upcoming role in Black Doves, a Netflix thriller series. In the show, she plays a British spy who gets involved in a risky love affair. She mentioned that she is now interested in roles that focus more on “pure entertainment.”
“I’ve been really surprised by what I’ve said no to in recent years,” Knightley said. “I want it to be more pure entertainment. Maybe that’s because I’ve needed it. I keep getting offered roles about children dying or mothers dying. I just can’t do it.”
Black Doves will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 5.