WITH two Oscar nominations and a string of acclaimed screen performances under her belt, most would agree that Keira Knightley had paid her dues as one of the world’s most successful actresses.
But not film director John Carney, who criticised her acting ability on Monday and claimed she was more like a supermodel.
Promoting his new film Sing Street, the Irishman hit out at 31-year-old Knightley’s performance in his 2013 movie Begin Again, in which she plays a struggling singer-songwriter.
Claiming she was a “movie star” and not a real actress, Carney said he became “disenchanted” with her while making the film in the US.
He added: “I didn’t enjoy that experience of paparazzi and fabulous openings. The movie-star world is not something that ever appealed to me. I like working with actors.
“Not that I didn’t enjoy Begin Again, but Keira has an entourage that follow her everywhere, so it’s hard to get any real work done.
“Keira’s thing is to hide who you are, and I don’t think you can be an actor and do that.
“I like to work with curious, proper film actors as opposed to movie stars. 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 – and I certainly don’t think she was ready for on that film.
“As much as I tried to make it work, I think that she didn’t quite come out as a guitar-playing singer-songwriter.
“I learned that I’ll never make a film with supermodels again.”
Carney, who wrote and directed the Oscar-winning 2007 film Once, was far more complimentary about Miss Knightley’s male co-stars Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine.
He said: “Mark Ruffalo is a fantastic actor and Adam Levine is a joy to work with – quite unpretentious and not a bit scared of exposing himself on camera and exploring who he is as an individual.”
Although Miss Knightley has had a successful modelling career, featuring as a cover girl for fashion magazines and starring in ads for brands including Chanel, she is best known for her starring roles in films such as Atonement and Pirates Of The Caribbean.
As well as Oscar nominations for Pride And Prejudice and The Imitation Game, she been nominated for two BAFTAs and three Golden Globes.Director David Cronenberg said she was one of the best actresses he’d worked with after filming A Dangerous Method in 2011. Miss Knightley did not respond to requests for comment last night.
Daily Mail