Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, stars of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, shared their thoughts on their memorable on-screen kiss.
The age gap between the actors added a layer of awkwardness, making the scene a topic of interest for years.
The age gap between Depp and Knightley
Depp, 41 at the time, and Knightley, 22 years younger, shared the kiss in Dead Man’s Chest (2006).
Depp admitted in a 2012 interview with The Standard that the scene felt awkward due to their age difference.
“Kissing someone you are not romantically involved with is always awkward, but the fact that Keira is twenty something years younger than me made it infinitely more awkward. Still, she was a good sport about it and we did what we had to do.” He expained.
He praised Knightley’s professionalism, adding, “She was a good sport, and we did what we had to do.”‘
Knightley’s perspective on the scene
Knightley had a more enthusiastic take on the kiss.
In a 2006 interview with TMZ, she said: “It was fantastic! What more can a girl ask for? I’ve got Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom and I get to kiss both of them. It’s wonderful!”
She joked about her luck, adding: “So looking back, would I do anything different? No, I wouldn’t because I’m unbelievably lucky now, and my career is in a place where I really enjoy it, and I have a level of fame that’s much less intense.”
Knightley’s complicated relationship with Fame
Despite her excitement about the role, Knightley later revealed struggles with the intense fame that followed the franchise.
In a 2019 interview with The Telegraph, she said: “The fame that came with them I just couldn’t handle.”
Knightley turned to smaller, independent films to escape the pressure, eventually finding balance in her career.
Knightley described her Pirates experience as both a blessing and a curse.
In a recent interview with The Times, she admitted: “They were the most successful films I’ll ever be a part of, but they were also the reason I was publicly taken down.”
The franchise opened doors to critically acclaimed roles, including Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game.
However, she noted: “They were making and breaking you at the same time.”
“I was seen as s**t because of them, and yet because they did so well I was given the opportunity to do the films that I ended up getting Oscar nominations for [Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game],” she highlighted.
The Pirates of the Caribbean films remain a pivotal part of both Depp’s and Knightley’s careers.
While the on-screen kiss sparked discussions, the franchise’s impact on their lives continues to shape their reflections on fame and success.