Keira Knightley reveals she 'cried over Brexit' and fears 'world will explode'

Keira Knightley discussed her fears over Brexit and climate change (Image: PA)

Actress Keira Knightley, who first rose to fame in childhood and has gone on to appear in a string of famous films, including Pirates of the Caribbean, has shared her innermost fears.

The 39-year-old expressed her anger about "ridiculous" paternity pay conditions in the UK, with fathers only supported to take two weeks off after the arrival of their children. She also agonised that she fears the world could "explode" as climate change concerns dominate the media.

The British star even confessed that Britain leaving the European Union left her in floods of tears. Revealing all in a brand new interview with Vanity Fair Italy, the actress clarified: "I mean, I'm worried that the world will explode!

"I always tell my daughters to grab happiness wherever they can find it, but I'm aware it won't be easy with all these situations [like climate change] getting out of control." She added that she'd campaigned to remain in the EU and had found the result of the referendum difficult to accept.

"I was in tears when Brexit happened and I have no idea what is going to happen," she told the publication. However, she added: "I really hope that, from now on, there will be better relations between the EU and Britain.

Keira Knightley with partner James and their kids (Image: GETTY)

"The bad relationship was just ridiculous, particularly at a point when we needed to work together to solve such big problems."

The film star, who is married to musician James Righton and shares two children with him, also blasted the gender differences when it comes to childcare.

Saying she'd like the British government to take a leaf out of Scandinavian countries' books and allow men more paid time off after the birth of a child, she blasted the UK system as "ridiculous".

She revealed that her friendship group consists of "very left-wing artistic" people who have "progressive" attitudes towards sharing childcare.

Keira Knightley and husband James Righton (Image: GETTY)

That means that dads are likely to drop their sons and daughters off at the school gates as much as mums do, with her insisting she sees a 50-50 split among her nearest and dearest.

Meanwhile, Keira had previously confessed that she had banned daughters Edie, nine, and Delilah, four, from watching Disney films as she sees them as too "patriarchal".

Explaining her decision, she said on the Ellen show back in 2018: "Cinderella is about [the woman] waiting around for a rich guy to rescue her – no, rescue yourself!"

She also slapped a ban on The Little Mermaid, explaining that while she loves the song, she can't stand the idea of a woman "giving up [her] voice for a man".

Though she's relaxed the ban now due to the free time her kids had during the pandemic, she says her eldest is aware of "calling out" sexism she sees on screen.