Keira Knightley is a versatile actress who has been seen in everything from blockbusters to independent films and period films. Throughout her career, she participated in films in which she was seen naked and in sex scenes. Now, since she had children, she has added a nudity ban clause to her contract. During an episode of the Chanel Connects podcast, the Oscar-nominated actress spoke to filmmaker Lulu Wang and producer / journalist Diane Solway about how she is no longer willing to do nude or sex scenes – specifically with male directors.
“It is partly vanity and it is also the masculine look,” she said on the podcast. “I feel very uncomfortable now trying to portray the masculine look.”
She understands that some directors need “someone who looks hot” and has those “horrible sex scenes where you are all greasy and everyone grunts”. For Knightley, she is at a point in her career where she no longer has an interest in doing so. She understands the value of this type of scene, but said that they can find someone else.
“I am very vain and the body has already had two children now and I prefer not to stand in front of a group of naked men,” she said.
Knightley is not entirely opposed to nude scenes. She said she would feel differently if it were a story about that journey of motherhood and acceptance of the body – but she said it would have to be with a filmmaker.
“I don’t have an absolute ban,” said Knightley, “but I like men.”