British actress, Keira Knightley, expressed her discomfort with shooting ‘sex scenes’ directed by men in a conversation with director Lulu Wang and writer/producer, Diane Soloway, on the Chanel Connections podcast.

Knightley has starred in international blockbuster productions such as Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, Bend it Like Beckham and Domino.

She earned herself nominations for two British Academy Films Awards also copping three Golden Globe Awards, three British Independent Film Awards and two Academy Awards nods.

Knightley has garnered a respectable career and is well regarded by her peers.

“If I was making a story that was about that journey of motherhood and body acceptance, I feel like, I’m sorry, but that would have to be with a female film-maker,” Knightley said. “I don’t have an absolute ban, but I kind of do with men.”

The actress further argued that she really has no interest in ‘sexy steamy scenes’.

“I feel very uncomfortable now trying to portray the male gaze. Saying that, there [are] times where I go, ‘Yeah, I completely see where this sex would be really good in this film and you basically just need somebody to look hot.’ So, therefore, you can use somebody else, because I’m too vain and the body has had two children now and I’d just rather not stand in front of a group of men naked,” Knightley explained.

The media often objectifies women and tends to rely on the mantra, ‘sex sells.’

Knightley is amongst the generation of women who are no longer contempt to abide by the stereotype/casting trope.

“We all empathise with men hugely because, culturally, their experience is so explored. We know so many aspects of even male sexuality. But we don’t feel like men can say, ‘Yes, I understand what you’re talking about because I’ve got this wealth of art and film and theatre and TV from your point of view’,” she continued.

Knightley has reached a stage in her womanhood, where she is not comfortable partaking in intimate sex scenes. Perhaps more so, after having two kids.