Keira Knightley is 'less neurotic' now she's stopped Googling herself every day
'I found it difficult to step back from it and I was taking it very personally,' she said of reading negative comments about herself online
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The 25-year-old Keira Knightley, the actress claims, was “neurotic” and took everything far too seriously.
But now, at 29, that’s no longer the case, she says, because she’s given up Googling her own name.
"I found it difficult to step back from it and I was taking it very personally," she said of reading negative comments about her acting and appearance online.
"Partly because as an actor you don't want necessarily that thicker skin, and I couldn't figure how to be open emotionally and yet get a thick enough skin so that things didn't hurt."
The situation, however, has since far improved.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, she said: "I don't know if it was a chemical thing, a certain kind of realisation that it really didn't matter - and a sudden realisation of what you have control of and you don't. You suddenly have a moment where you go, actually I can't do anything about that.
"I don't Google myself - that was the problem before 25. Not that I did it all the time, but I certainly saw enough to say, 'Oh you shouldn't look'. I mean, you don't need to look, it is not helpful.
"You have to be quite vigilant about it. Again I think this is probably the same if you are on social media and if you do put anything out in the public, you are opening yourself up now to a lot of criticism and a lot of people telling you they hate you."
The usually conservative actress made headlines last month, after she appeared in Interview magazine entirely topless.
She stars opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game, which will premiere at the London Film Festival on 8 October.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments