Multi-Oscar nominee Keira Knightley won’t do nude scenes in any of her film projects, a clause that has been in her acting contract since 2015. Having taken on a variety of acclaimed roles over the course of her career, Knightley has altered her perception of what is and isn’t acceptable to her on screen, thanks to #MeToo and becoming a mother.
Though Hollywood still has a long way to go in terms of gender and racial equality, many changes have been made for the better in recent years. The impact of the #MeToo movement has been especially vital for turning attention to how women are treated both on and off film productions, and this, in turn, has helped to ensure that sensitivity and respect are essential components within the entertainment industry. There’s no doubt that Hollywood is changing, and while some might feel that things aren’t happening fast enough, the differences between how things currently are and how they were even five years ago are substantial. The conviction and imprisonment of film mogul Harvey Weinstein was a warning call for all who might thrive on abusing positions of power, and life post-Weinstein offers much room for change.
As one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses, Knightley is no stranger to taking on challenging roles. But when it comes to on-screen nudity, the veteran star has no interest. As per BBC, Knightley recently revealed that she won’t do any nude scenes with a male director. This is likely part of a no-nudity clause that she’s had in place since 2015 when she became a mother. Describing the stipulation as partly vanity and partly a discomfort with the male gaze, Knightley expanded on her feelings on the subject, saying:
"I don't want it to be those horrible sex scenes where you're all greased up and everybody is grunting. I'm not interested in doing that. Saying that, there's times where I go, 'Yeah, I completely see where this sex would be really good in this film and you basically just need somebody to look hot', so therefore you can use somebody else. Because I'm too vain, and the body has had two children now, and I'd just rather not stand in front of a group of men naked."
Despite not directly mentioning #MeToo, the fact remains that Knightley’s freedom to make a statement such as this is more protected than ever before. Some might argue that Knightley is only able to make such a public statement because of her established fame and that a similar stance wouldn’t work for an up and coming or unknown actress. While this may be true, it’s vital for veteran actresses to take those initial steps toward creating a work environment that can eventually become the norm. For her part, Knightley also acknowledges that she could rethink her point of view were the director a woman and the scene or film dealt with motherhood and its transformative effects on the female body.
It’s been a while since Knightley has starred in any especially successful productions, but that doesn’t change her ability to deliver a solid performance. When all is said and done, no actress’ worth comes down to their willingness to appear naked on screen. For this reason, Knightley’s desire to keep her clothes on in all future film projects is a small but much-needed departure from misguided perceptions of what an actress is meant to be.
Source: BBC