Keira Knightley’s Struggle With Anna Karenina’s Complexities

For many, the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice remains the definitive version, with Keira Knightley’s spirited Elizabeth Bennet, Matthew Macfadyen’s reserved Mr Darcy, and Donald Sutherland’s questionable accent. It’s a favourite among younger generations, and it’s easy to forget that director Joe Wright and Knightley collaborated on another period piece. Seven years later, they reunited for Anna Karenina, with a screenplay by the late Tom Stoppard, drawing from Tolstoy’s celebrated novel. Knightley took on the title role, navigating a perilous romance with a distinguished officer, played by Jude Law, set against the grandeur of Imperial Russia.

Taking on Anna was a significant opportunity for Knightley, following in the footsteps of icons like Claire Bloom, Greta Garbo, and her own favourite, Vivian Leigh. Yet, the process of inhabiting Anna’s character proved unexpectedly challenging.

“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 Contradictions and Social Defiance

Literary critics might well agree with Knightley’s assessment. Like Elizabeth Bennet, Anna refuses to be boxed in by the expectations of her era. Already married when she meets her lover, she is convinced that this should not prevent her from seeking genuine affection. Even after her reputation is tarnished, she boldly re-enters society, despite being branded a ‘spoiled woman’ by her former peers.

To a contemporary audience, Anna’s actions might seem courageous, but within the rigid confines of 19th-century Russian society, her choices lead to her downfall. As many will recall from school literature lessons, a character often symbolises more than just themselves. Anna, in many ways, stands for Russia itself, a nation in the throes of transformation during Tolstoy’s time. Her complexity as a protagonist mirrors the turbulence of a country on the brink of modernity, while her tragic end could be seen as a reflection of conservative anxieties about the nation’s future.

Mixed Reception and Lasting Impressions

Despite the star-studded cast and creative pedigree, the 2012 adaptation struggled to find its audience. The film’s reception was lukewarm, with many critics feeling that Wright’s highly stylised direction overshadowed the narrative. The consensus was that the visual flair came at the expense of emotional depth. However, Knightley’s performance was singled out for praise, her portrayal of Anna’s inner turmoil resonating even when the film itself did not quite hit the mark.

It’s clear that Knightley’s deep engagement with the role, despite her frustrations, brought a fresh perspective to a character who has long fascinated audiences and actors alike.