Keira Knightley says motherhood is a ‘physical and emotional marathon’

'I still find it really f***ing difficult'

Keira Knightley has spoken candidly about her experience as a mother, describing it as a “physical and emotional marathon”.

As her new film Colette hits screens, Knightly says the story of French author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette using her voice has inspired her to speak more openly about womanhood.

“I feel I have a responsibility to help create a world that is more equal,” the actor told Balance.

“We live in a male-dominated society and it can only be helpful to talk about a woman’s whole experience, as opposed to the very fine line of femininity that we normally see in our culture.”

The 33-year-old also addressed the realities of motherhood admitting that, despite her privilege, she doesn’t always find bringing up her three-year-old daughter, Edie, easy.

“I don’t think we give women enough credit for the physical and emotional marathon they go through when becoming a mother,” she said.

“I come from a place of amazing privilege. I have an incredible support system; I’ve been unbelievably lucky in my career; I can afford good childcare, and yet I still find it really f***ing difficult. It’s OK to say that.”

She explained that feeing this way doesn't mean she loves her child any less and that it's okay to admit that things like sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, and relationship problems are a struggle.

"I have to remind myself that I haven’t failed, I’m just doing what I can do, but it’s not easy," she said.

Knightley also spoke about the pressures of the movie industry and how she struggled with her mental health in the early years of her career. The actor said that the period between the ages of 19 and 23 was a "big blur", before revealing that her world “crashed” at 22.

“Everything stopped working and I felt as if I was broken into tiny pieces; as if my brain was literally shattered," she explained.

Knightley revealed that therapy helped her return to the spotlight and that, while it was difficult, she has learnt to take positives from the breakdown.

“I know that just because today feels like a mountain, it doesn’t mean that tomorrow will."