Filmmakers Defend Keira Knightley After ‘Begin Again’ Director’s Criticism

Keira
Knightley’s Hollywood supporters are speaking out.

After “Begin
Again” director John Carney criticized her in a recent interview, other
filmmakers who have worked with the star chimed in to refute his comments.

Carney told
Britain’s Independent in an article published online on May 28 that his
experience with Keira on the 2013 film, in which she starred alongside Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine as an
aspiring singer-songwriter, wasn’t exactly his cup of tea. 

“Keira has an entourage that follow her everywhere so it’s
very hard to get any real work done. … I’ll never make a film with supermodels
again,” he said.

Carney went on to explain that while he doesn’t necessarily
“hate” the “Hollywood thing,” he’d rather direct performers
who aren’t in the limelight. 

PHOTOS: Hot Shots Of Adam Levine 

“I like to work with curious, proper film actors as opposed
to movie stars,” he said. “I don’t want to rubbish Keira, but you
know it’s hard being a film actor and it requires a certain level of honesty
and self-analysis that I don’t think she’s ready for yet and I certainly don’t
think she was ready for on that film.”

Following Carney’s candid remarks, Mark Romanek, Lynn Shelton and
Lorene Scafaria all chimed in to praise Keira’s on-set professionalism.

“My experience with #keiraknightley was utterly spectacular on every
level,” Romanek, who directed Keira in 2010’s “Never Let Me Go,”
tweeted on Monday.

“I have no clue what this guy is talking
about,” he added, including the hashtag “#arrogants***head” in
his post.

WATCH: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo & Adam Levine Talk ‘Begin Again’

My recollection of #keiraknightley's "entourage" was that her mum visited the set one day for an hour or two.

— mark romanek (@markromanek) May 30, 2016

According to Romanek, Keira’s squad doesn’t
match what Carney had described.

“My recollection of #keiraknightley’s
‘entourage’ was that her mum visited the set one day for an hour or two,”
he wrote.

Shelton and Scafaria, who helmed 2014’s
“Laggies” and 2012’s “Seeking a Friend for the End of the
World,” respectively, echoed Romanek’s opinion.

“Keira was a joy to work w/. Present & easy
& really, really good at her job. Just lovely,”
Scafaria tweeted.

Shelton agreed, writing, “Working
with #KeiraKnightley was magnificent, top
to bottom. She is the real deal. #Knightleylove.”

“Selma” director Ava DuVernay addressed the situation
without referring to Keira or Carney specifically, stating simply that while
some directors may choose not to work with an actor again “for whatever
reason,” she believes that airing grievances publicly isn’t the way to go.

There are actors that directors won't call again for whatever reason. But don't disparage them in the press. C'mon. https://t.co/piMhqwyWIX

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 29, 2016

“Don’t disparage them in the press,” she Tweeted. “C’mon.”

Keira herself has yet to join the conversation, but her fellow actors have also come to her defense. 

WATCH: Access Flashback: Keira Knightley Talks Embracing Her Skinny Figure & Not Being A Role Model 

Zach Braff tweeted that he found Carney’s remarks “a s***ty
thing to do,” while Melanie Lynskey shared her perspective as a performer.

“Have never worked with Carney or Knightley, but
I will say it’s very difficult to bare your soul if you don’t trust/feel safe w
your director,”
the “Togetherness” star tweeted. 

On Wednesday, Carney took to Twitter to apologize for what he said, referring to his statements as “petty, mean and hurtful.”

“It’s not something I could ever justify, and will never repeat,” he said. 

From a director who feels like a complete idiot. pic.twitter.com/vfO8m4U2Hl

— John Carney (@jayceefactory) June 1, 2016

— Erin Biglow