Actress Keira Knightley has revealed that she was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after suffering a mental breakdown aged just 22, admitting she found leaving the house a constant battle.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, the 33-year-old opened up about growing up as a child star and learning how to cope with increased media interest in her personal life.
"It was big money to get pictures of women falling apart," she said of the paparazzi's focus on photographing women who were annoyed or upset at being followed by the press.
"Suddenly there was a level of violence, it felt, in the air.
"I think I've always had a f**k-you button, and it was so obvious that they wanted me to fall, and I had such, like, an 'I'm not gonna give you what you want' [face]. So there was a sense of battle every day leaving the house," she explained.
Despite rave reviews about her performances, the star also admitted that her confidence took a huge blow when she realised several critics focussed more on her looks than acting skills.
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"I was aware that I didn't know what I was doing, you know? I didn't know my trade, I didn't know my craft. I knew that there was something that worked sometimes, but I didn't know how to capture that," she said.
"You're getting all these nominations for all of these things, but press-wise, when I'm going into interviews, people are still saying, 'Everybody thinks you're shit' or focusing on your looks, or focusing on what's wrong with you."
As a result, the British star said she struggled to cope with the overwhelming demands of fame at such a young age – she was just 17-years-old when she filmed the first Pirates of the Caribbean film – and suffered a mental breakdown which culminated in panic attacks and a PTSD diagnosis.
"I did have a mental breakdown at 22, so I did take a year off there and was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder because of all of that stuff," she said.
The star eventually sought help with a therapist and underwent hypnotherapy ahead of her 2008 BAFTAs red carpet appearance, where she was nominated for Atonement, to ensure she wouldn't suffer a panic attack.
"I went deep into therapy and all of that, and [the therapist] said, 'It's amazing — I normally come in here and have people that think people are talking about them and they think that they're being followed, but actually they're not. You're the first person that actually is happening to!'"
After minor roles on television, Knightley's first breakout role was in the 2002 hit film Bend It Like Beckham as a teenager.
She then went onto critical acclaim for projects such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Love Actually and The Imitation Game.
Following her latest role in her upcoming film, Colette, the star says she's had the time to take a break and focus on what she loves about her job.
"I learned my trade. I did it very publicly, but I have learned my trade, and technically, whatever you need me to do, I can deliver it," she said. "I'm in a good place where I feel pretty confident about what I can do."
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
