British actress Keira Knightley has opened up about sexual harassment faced by women, saying that she doesn’t know any woman who never gets harassed.
During an interview with Harper’s Bazaar magazine, the 36-year-old actress termed the situation “depressing” and said: “Literally, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been, in some way, whether it’s being flashed at, or groped, or some guy saying they’re going to slit your throat, or punching you in the face, or whatever it is, everybody has.”
Speaking about the precautions taken by women while walking to home alone, the Pirates of the Caribbean star said, “It was when women started listing all the precautions they take when they walk home to make sure they’re safe, and I thought, I do every single one of them, and I don’t even think about it.”
A survey conducted by UN Women, a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women, more than 86 percent of women aged between 18 and 24 have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces in the United Kingdom.
Besides, 70 percent of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space.
In the interview, Knightley, who recently withdrew from the period drama The Essex Serpent over childcare concerns amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, also recalled what she did to boost her family’s morale during uncertain times.
“We have a trampoline in our garden, and we decided we were only allowed to wear dresses on it,” the Pride and Prejudice actress said. “I put on red lipstick every day, and every bit of Chanel that I have in my cupboard, and my daughter Edie had Chanel ribbons plaited into her hair and fairy wings.”
“I thought ‘What is the point of these lovely things sitting in the wardrobe, when it feels quite apocalyptic and scary outside?’ It felt so important to be really happy for the kids!” she added.
While appreciating Baroness Jenny Jones, a member of House of Lords of the United Kingdom, for suggesting a curfew for men, Knightley said: “I love that politician who said there ought to be a curfew for men and men were outraged, and you think – but there’s a curfew for women and there always has been.”
The interview published in Harper’s Bazaar also reported the incident that happened during the interview when Knightley and interviewer Lydia Slater were harassed by a lone male stranger who shouted at the actress “You look very young!” and started following them.
On asking about her upcoming projects, the actress said that she hadn’t work in a year, and her next release will be Silent Night, which was wrapped up even before the first Covid-19 lockdown in the UK.
In January, Knightley talked about the discomfort while shooting intimate scenes in a male-directed film.
“If I was making a story that was about that journey of motherhood and body acceptance, I feel like, I’m sorry, but that would have to be with a female filmmaker,” she said. “I don’t have an absolute ban, but I kind of do with men.”
Keira Knightley lives with her husband James Righton, a musician and former member of the band Klaxons, and two beautiful daughters, Edie (6) and Delilah (1).
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