“Keira Knightley Reveals She Took a Year Off Acting After a PTSD Breakdown

“Keira Knightley Reveals She Took a Year Off Acting After a PTSD Breakdown - W” plus 1 more

Keira Knightley Reveals She Took a Year Off Acting After a PTSD Breakdown - W

Posted: 23 Dec 2018 08:11 AM PST

Keira Knightley is opening up about the way fame negatively impacted her mental health, and the hard work she put in to rise about the spotlight's glare. Her early years of stardom gave her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, she said, but she found a way to keep doing what she loves.

Knightley first spoke about her PTSD diagnosis back in October of this year, but the news is making the rounds again in light of a new profile, published today in The Sunday Times.

"It was very intense and lonely," she revealed, per Refinery29. "If there's a camera at a party, I don't think that's a party, so I was never interested in being in that scene. I always wanted to be top of the class, and I always wanted to be perfect, and I always thought that I could just do fame right. I tried being 5lb heavier, but then people say you have cellulite, and then 5lb lighter, and then you're anorexic and causing people to die. It was just so much. But in a funny way I think I was quite lucky in that it was so insane that I sort of recognised it."

All the negative attention came between Knightley and her work, but not her support system, she said, explaining, "I literally couldn't work for a year and I didn't know whether there would be an end to that. I have a super-solid background and thank f--- for that. My family and my small but very close group of friends just wrapped me up. And I think, without that, it would have been a very different story. I knew I always had somebody there to cuddle me who didn't want anything from me."

"I literally felt like I was worthless," Knightley revealed back in October, reflecting on hearing so much criticism when she first rose to superstardom at a young age. "I felt pretty much like actually I didn't exist and I was this weird creature with this weird face that people seemed to respond to in quite an extreme way, and I couldn't quite figure any of it out." The BBC reported at the time that "At one point Knightley did not leave the house for three months. She also had to have hypnotherapy to prevent a panic attack in order to be able to attend the Baftas in 2008, where she was nominated for Atonement."

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Kate Middleton gets into the Christmas spirit in £1,450 red plaid skirt by Emilia Wickstead and £209 Brora c - The Sun

Posted: 04 Dec 2018 08:39 AM PST

KATE Middleton totally nailed festive chic as she hosted a Christmas Party for RAF families at her Kensington Palace home today.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked Santastic in a £1,450 red plaid skirt by New Zealand designer Emilia Wickstead.

Kate Middleton looked fashionably festive as she and Prince William hosted an RAF Christmas party at her Kensington Palace homeCredit: PA:Press Association

Providing us with a blueprint of how to dress for the festive season, Kate paired the skirt with a cashmere cardigan from Brora costing £209 and completed her look with a pair of heeled black boots.

In true duchess style, Kate kept her make-up on the minimal side for the Christmas party and opted for a subtle smokey eye.

Looking effortlessly glamorous for the first festive event of the year, Kate also wore her newly-highlighted hair in signature loose waves.

Finishing off her outfit with some understated jewellery, Kate donned a pair of £3,750 white gold and diamond earrings from Mappin & Webb as well as a stainless steel watch by Cartier costing £6,350.

The Duchess of Cambridge stunned in a £1,450 skirt by Emilia Wickstead which she paired with a £209 cashmere cardi from BroraCredit: James Whatling

The Duchess showed off her noticeably lighter hair which she styled in her signature loose wavesCredit: Rex Features

Kate's white gold and diamond earrings cost £3,750 while her Cartier watch is sold for a further £6,350Credit: PA:Press Association

Staff playfully throw snowballs at Prince William and Kate Middleton as they leave Christmas party

Emilia Wickstead is one of Kate's favourite luxury labels, with the Duchess recycling two of the brand's designer dresses in the past month.

Kate stepped out in a lilac dress from the label as she attended the Global Ministerial Health Summit in October before wearing Emilia Wickstead again as her and Prince William took over the One Show two weeks ago.

But while we may not be able to stretch our style budgets to over £5,000 like Kate, there are plenty of affordable high street dupes available on the market... and they start from as little as £8.99.

There are plenty of high street options out there if you're looking to master the plaid skirt trend

Mock Layer Check Midi Skirt, £25.99 from Pull & Bear - buy now
Check Pencil Midi Skirt, £39 from Topshop - buy now
Plaid Swing Skirt, £14.99 from Shein - buy now

If you're wanting to make a festive plaid statement like Kate then look no further than the great British high street.

Leading the duchess dupes is this plaid swing skirt from bargain fashion store Shein.

Featuring a super similar cut and pattern, this super flattering fit is the easiest way to give a nod to Kate's style this festive season... and it will only set you back £14.99.

If pencil skirts are more your thing, Topshop currently has a £39 option with a sophisticated slit at the front.

Alternatively, Pull & Bear is selling a Kate-inspired plaid midi skirt for £25.99 which even has a trendy button-up finish.

Make a simple and chic statement with a button up cardigan like Kate

French Connection Spring Bambino Cardigan, £45 from John Lewis & Partners - buy now
Fine Knit Cardigan, £8.99 from H&M - buy now
Round Neck Cardigan, £17.50 from M&S - buy now

Something of a wardrobe staple, Kate complemented her statement skirt with a simple black button-up cardigan.

And although her cashmere design from luxury label Brora is a thing of beauty, the high street is full of cheaper alternatives.

For only £8.99, H&M is selling a simple black knit which buttons up in a similar fashion.

High street staple M&S also has a Brora dupe on offer for £17.50 which also buttons up all the way to the neck.

But our personal favourite has got to be French Connection's £45 offering which has a delicate trim detail running down the front. Sold.