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knight-ley's shining armour

Director friends back Keira over ‘not proper actor’ row with John Carney

Pals of star slam filmmaker calling him an 'arrogant s***head' after he made scathing comments about working with her

PALS of Hollywood star Keira Knightley have leapt to her defence after she was branded a “supermodel” and not a “proper” actor by a top director.

Irish filmmaker John Carney, who made 2013 movie Begin Again with Keira, said it was impossible to work with the Brit as she had an “entourage” that “follow her everywhere”.

 Keira Knightley was called a ‘supermodel’...not a ‘proper’ actor by Carney
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Keira Knightley was called a ‘supermodel’...not a ‘proper’ actor by CarneyCredit: Getty Images - WireImage

But Mark Romanek, who directed 2010 film Never Let Me Go with the actress, voiced his support for the London-born actress.

He said his experience with the 31-year-old was “utterly spectacular on every level” and added: “I have no clue what this guy is talking about. #arrogants***head”.”

 Romanek called Carney an arrogant s***head...from one director to another
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Romanek called Carney an arrogant s***head...from one director to anotherCredit: HANDOUT

The director added: “My recollection of #keiraknightley’s “entourage” was that her mum visited the set one day for an hour or two.”

Lorene Scafaria, who directed the actress in 2012 comedy-drama Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, also backed Knightley. She described her as a “joy” to work with and “really, really good at her job”.

 Director Lorene Scafaria described Keira as a ‘joy’ to work with
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Director Lorene Scafaria described Keira as a ‘joy’ to work withCredit: Getty Images

In his interview Carney was scathing about Knightley saying he would “never make a film with supermodels again”.

He said: “It’s hard being a film actor and it requires a certain level of honesty and self-analysis that I don’t think she is ready for yet and I certainly don’t think she was ready for on that film.

“I didn’t enjoy that experience of paparazzi and fabulous openings.

 John Carney was not at all happy with Keira’s talent...and had alot to say about it
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John Carney was not at all happy with Keira’s talent...and had alot to say about itCredit: Getty Images - WireImage

“I like working with actors and I wanted to come back to what I knew and enjoy filmmaking again — not that I didn’t enjoy Begin Again, but 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.”