Keira Knightley’s Most Challenging Role: Why Anna Karenina Frustrated Her
Keira Knightley opened up about the difficulties of playing Anna Karenina, calling the character both fascinating and exasperating. While the 2012 adaptation received mixed reviews, Knightley’s performance stood out.
Many movie fans instantly think of the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice when Keira Knightley’s name comes up. Her portrayal of the fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, alongside Matthew Macfadyen’s intense Mr. Darcy and Donald Sutherland’s questionable English accent, made the film a favorite for a whole generation. But that wasn’t the only time Knightley teamed up with director Joe Wright to bring a classic novel to life. In 2012, the pair reunited for Anna Karenina, with a screenplay by Tom Stoppard based on Leo Tolstoy’s legendary novel. Knightley took on the title role, a woman swept into a dangerous romance with a dashing officer, played by Jude Law, set against the grandeur and strict codes of Imperial Russia.
Stepping Into Anna’s Complicated World
Landing the part of Anna was a major milestone for Knightley, especially considering the legacy of actresses like Claire Bloom, Greta Garbo, and Vivien Leigh, whom Knightley deeply admired. Yet, as she dove into the role, she found herself wrestling with the character’s complexity.
“She’s a wonderful character, but very strange and complex,”
Knightley admitted.
“There were times when I thought, I really hate this person. She is needy and manipulative and then there are sides of her that are vulnerable and innocent, and I sometimes think it ’s the innocence that pulls her down… You completely see where she’s coming from, but you want to choke her at the same time because at no point can she see what is right in front of her.”
Anna’s Struggle Against Society
Literary critics might agree with Knightley’s take—Anna is her own worst enemy in many ways. Like Elizabeth Bennet, she refuses to let society’s expectations define her. Already married when she meets her lover, Anna believes she deserves real love, no matter the consequences. Even after her reputation is ruined, she boldly returns to the social scene, despite being shunned as a ‘fallen woman’ by her former friends.
To modern viewers, Anna’s choices might seem courageous, but in the rigid world of 19th-century Russia, her defiance leads to tragedy. Anna’s story is more than just personal drama; she stands as a symbol for a nation in the midst of massive change. Her independent spirit mirrors Russia’s own struggle with modernization, while her tragic end reflects the anxieties of a society afraid of losing its old ways.
Mixed Reactions and Lasting Impact
Despite the star power and creative team behind it, the 2012 film didn’t draw big crowds. Critics were divided, with many feeling that Wright’s highly stylized direction overshadowed the story itself. Still, Knightley’s performance earned praise for its depth and emotional honesty. All the effort she put into understanding Anna’s contradictions clearly paid off, even if the movie itself didn’t become a blockbuster.