Keira Knightley has had a consistent run in Hollywood mainly starring in period dramas or historical epics. With films such as Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, Never Let Me Go, A Dangerous Method, Anna Karenina, and The Imitation Game, Knightley has been able to carve a niche for herself with narratives stemming from period settings or real-life historical events.

She has also starred in various commercial projects including her most famous role as Elizabeth Swann in The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. She is a very versatile actress who can convincingly portray any role given to her.

Keira Knightley

One of her most joyful films was the 2013 musical comedy-drama Begin Again which she starred alongside Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine. Although the film was a big hit for Knightley and the crew,  it seems she didn’t get along with the director of the film John Carney who had some harsh things to say about her.

John Carney Apologized to Keira Knightley After Criticizing Her Work Ethic

Keira Knightley in Begin Again

John Carney who directed Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo in Begin Again did not have kind words to say about Knightley. He criticized her supermodel lifestyle and her inability to sing. He later issued an apology on X, acknowledging his embarrassment and calling himself an idiot for his actions.

Keira Knightley accepted the director’s apology and addressed the comments made by him and why they didn’t get along on Begin Again. (to Irish Central)

“I was sort of thrilled. I’ve been called many things in my life, many worse things – but I’ve never been called a supermodel. Thanks! It was a very difficult shoot. We didn’t get on. It’s just a thing that happens sometimes and I say that with no blame. It takes two to tango. I think we can both be very proud of ourselves for the film that we made because it’s difficult when a lead actor and director don’t get on. And I don’t think you could tell that from watching the film. Begin Again is a wonderful film. It didn’t do what we hoped. So there was a level of disappointment attached.” 

Begin Again was a huge box office success grossing $63 million against a $8 million budget. Both parties can settle their difference and enjoy the success that it has had. Also, the film has become a fan favorite in recent times, so more the reason to celebrate.

John Carney Called Keira Knightley A Supermodel Who Can’t Sing

The cast of Begin Again

John Carney, prior to the apology had harsh things to say about Keira Knightley while working together on Begin Again, in which she starred alongside Mark Ruffalo. He told Independent

“Keira has an entourage that follow her everywhere so it’s very hard to get any real work done, and so I was very ready to come back to Ireland and make films that nobody cared about who was in it or any of that crap. I think the real problem was that Keira wasn’t a singer and wasn’t a guitar player and it’s very hard to make music seem real if it’s not with musicians.

And I think the audience struggled a little bit with that in Begin Again. And as much as I tried to make it work I think that she didn’t quite come out as a guitar-playing singer-songwriter. So I really wanted to work with musicians and actors that could play their instruments properly and sing and stuff like that. I’ll never make a film with supermodels again.”

Knightley recently starred in the film Boston Strangler based on the real-life serial 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er who 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed 13 women in 1960s Boston. Audiences can buy or rent Knightley’s Begin Again from YouTube and experience a joyful film about music and friendship.

Sources: X, Irish Central, Independent