Keira Knightley has revealed she suffered a mental breakdown at the age of 22 and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as she struggled to cope with her sudden rise to fame. The actress said she was forced to take a year off after starring in blockbuster films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Love Actually.
Despite her success, Knightley admitted that criticism of her acting made her feel 'worthless' and she became too scared to leave the house due to paparazzi harassment. She told the Hollywood Reporter Awards Chatter podcast that her rapid ascent to stardom was 'completely insane', and that from the inside, all she heard was negative feedback.
The actress, who received an Oscar nomination for Pride and Prejudice in 2005, said she felt like she did not exist and was a 'weird creature with this weird face'. She described being followed by up to 20 photographers at a time, who would bait her for a reaction, creating a 'level of violence in the air'.
At one point, Knightley did not leave her house for three months. She also required hypnotherapy to prevent a panic attack before attending the Baftas in 2008, where she was nominated for Atonement. During her year off, she underwent intensive therapy and returned to work in 2010 feeling 'really good' and no longer caring about others' opinions.
Knightley joins a growing list of celebrities who have spoken about their experiences with PTSD, including Ariana Grande, Lily Allen, Will Young, and Mel B.
