# In 2016, director John Carney lashed out at Keira Knightley, dismissing her as a “supermodel” rather than an actor

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-2016-director-john-carney-lashed-out-at-keira-knightley-dismissing-her-as-a-supermodel-rather-than-an-actor/
- Published: 2026-11-02T16:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T19:02:25+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-2016-director-john-carney-lashed-out-at-keira-knightley-dismissing-her-as-a-supermodel-rather-than-an-actor/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment

## Key points

- Carney criticised Knightley three years after they made *Begin Again*.
- Knightley said the shoot was difficult and they did not get on.
- She accepted his apology but did not work with him again.

## Summary

John Carney criticised Keira Knightley during publicity for his 2016 film *Sing Street*, saying he had learnt not to make films with “supermodels” and praising his new film for having none. His remarks revived tensions from their work together on *Begin Again*, despite that film’s positive reception and commercial success.

Knightley said filming had been difficult and that they had not got on, while stressing that neither was solely to blame. She responded wryly to Carney’s comments, saying she was “sort of thrilled” to be called a supermodel, and later accepted his apology. She has not worked with him again.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.