Keira Knightley has never been shy about her feminist beliefs. In past interviews, the star has talked about how Hollywood needs to make more movies that feature complex female stories, revealed that she has turned down roles if they didn’t work with her values, and has spoken out about the use of Photoshop on women. So it’s not exactly surprising that in her latest interview, Knightley said she has banned her daughters from seeing a few classic Disney movies due to her beliefs.
During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday to promote her role in Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Knightley spoke about her issues with other Disney films from the past. Apparently, she’s not a huge fan of Disney Princesses.
Knightley revealed that she doesn’t allow her 3-year-old daughter, Edie Knightley Righton, to watch the movies Cinderella and The Little Mermaid.
She has specific reasons for both: she doesn’t like the way the princesses act for the men in the movie. For Cinderella, Knightley said her issue is that “she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her. Don’t! Rescue yourself. Obviously!”
She also added that although she “really likes the film,” she doesn’t let her daughter watch The Little Mermaid, explaining, “the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello!”
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It’s interesting to hear Knightley speak out against these Disney movies, especially considering the fact that she’s in the midst of doing press for a Disney film! One has to assume that her role in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is more on the feminist side than some of the classic Disney Princesses.
Knightley also talked about what her daughter wants to be when she grows up, saying she wanted to be a dentist because of an episode of Peppa Pig, but now she wants to be a lion. When Ellen asked what Knightley would do if her daughter wanted to follow in her own acting footsteps, Knightley said, “I am going to support her in anything that she wants to do.” YES.
