HOLLYWOOD, June 1 (UPI) — Filmmakers who have worked with Keira Knightley are speaking out in support of the actress after director John Carney questioned her acting ability.
Following an interview with The Independent during which the “Begin Again” director said the actress’s “thing” is to “hide who you are,” and that he would never work with “supermodels” again, a handful of Hollywood directors have come out in the star’s defense.
“My experience with #keiraknightley was utterly spectacular on every level,” filmmaker Mark Romanek tweeted. “I have no clue what this guy is talking about.” He added an explicit hashtag calling Carney “arrogant,” at the end of the message.
During the interview, Carney claimed Knightley was often busy with her “entourage,” but Romanek said in his experience, “My recollection of #keiraknightley’s ‘entourage’ was that her mum visited the set one day for an hour or two.”
“Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” director Lorene Scafaria echoed Romanek’s sentiment, saying on Twitter Knightley “was a joy to work [with.] Present & easy & really, really good at her job. Just lovely.”
Lynn Shelton, who helmed 2014’s “Laggies,” also added her insight, saying the actress “was magnificent, top to bottom. She is the real deal.”
Carney told The Independent Knightley was “disenchanted” during her work on “Begin Again,” alongside Mark Ruffalo and singer Adam Levine, in the interview, published Saturday.
“I don’t want to rubbish Keira, but you know it’s hard being a film actor and it requires a certain level of honesty and self-analysis, that I don’t think she’s ready for yet,” he said, “and I certainly don’t think she was ready for on that film.”
Keira Knightley has not yet acknowledged Carney’s comments.
