Director John Carney recently released the coming-of-age musical “Sing Street” that was a critical hit out of Sundance earlier this year, but it seems like he’s still bogged down in the past. Though his previous film “Begin Again,” about a burgeoning singer-songwriter (Keira Knightley) discovered by a struggling record label executive (Mark Ruffalo), was a commercial hit and a moderate critical success, Carney had some harsh words for Keira Knightley, saying that he’ll “never work with supermodels again” and that “Keira’s thing is to hide who you are and I don’t think you can be an actor and do that.” He also mentioned it was hard to get any “real work done” because Knightley “had an entourage that follow her everywhere.”
Carney’s comments have received quite a bit of backlash on social media, but now filmmakers and actors are joining in to defend the actress. Director Lynn Shelton said that “working with [Knightley]” on her 2014 film “Laggies” was “magnificent top to bottom.” Filmmaker Mark Romanek, who directed Knightley in “Never Let Me Go,” called Carney an “arrogant shithead” and also said that her “entourage” consisted of her mother who visited the set “one day for an hour or two.” Meanwhile, other actors have weighed in as well. Melanie Lynskey of the recently cancelled HBO series “Togetherness” said that though she had never worked with Carney or Knightley, “it’s very difficult to bare your soul if you don’t trust/feel safe w [sic] your director.” Actor Zach Braff echoed Mark Romanek’s comments and said that Carney’s actions were “a really shitty thing to do.”
For more comments, read the following tweets below:
Working with #KeiraKnightley was magnificent, top to bottom. She is the real deal. #Knightleylove
— Lynn Shelton (@lynnsheltonfilm) May 30, 2016
My experience with #keiraknightley was utterly spectacular on every level. I have no clue what this guy is talking about. #arrogantshithead
— mark romanek (@markromanek) May 30, 2016
My recollection of #keiraknightley's "entourage" was that her mum visited the set one day for an hour or two.
— mark romanek (@markromanek) May 30, 2016
.@Lieryn @markromanek I agree with Mark. Keira was a joy to work w/. Present & easy & really, really good at her job. Just lovely.
— Lorene Scafaria (@LoreneScafaria) May 30, 2016
I've worked with Keira twice and couldn't find John Carney's remarks more untrue or inelegant. They reveal so much more about him than her.
— Massy Tadjedin (@MTadjedin) May 30, 2016
What you need, as an actor, or any artist, is trust. From these unfortunate remarks, I doubt John Carney ever engendered that.
— Massy Tadjedin (@MTadjedin) May 30, 2016
As for the mention of an "entourage," Keira doesn't have one. But it clearly still stands out when a woman employs even a single person.
— Massy Tadjedin (@MTadjedin) May 30, 2016
Interviewed #keiraknightley twice. Had no publicist. Totally chill and very funny. No entourage in sight. And I've seen me some entourages
— Donna Freydkin (@freydkin) May 31, 2016
Have never worked with Carney or Knightley,but I will say it's very difficult to bare your soul if you don't trust/feel safe w your director
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) May 29, 2016
I thought that was a really shitty thing to do. Now I know one of my favorite filmmakers agrees. #FreeKeira https://t.co/L2dRwjAVwn
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) May 30, 2016
Keira Knightley has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her performances in 2006’s “Pride and Prejudice” and 2014’s “The Imitation Game.”
READ MORE: Keira Knightley Prepares For The Throne In Barbra Streisand’s ‘Catherine The Great’
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