Keira Knightley reveals why lesbian sex toned down in new film

Actor Keira Knightley has explained that lesbian sex scenes in her new film were toned down so that they weren’t “seen through the male gaze.”

Knightley the title character in her latest film Colette, a biographical drama detailing the life of French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, who has several lesbian affairs with other women while she was married to Henry Gauthier-Villars.

Knightley explained that she didn’t want the lesbian sex scenes to be “exploitative.” (Jeff Spicer/Getty)

“I didn’t want the lesbian sex scenes to be seen through the male gaze,’ Knightley told the Daily Mail in an interview.

“We were very conscious of keeping it titillating, but not in any way exploitative.”

“I always think what’s more important is what’s left to the imagination.”

— Keira Knightley

The 33-year-old actor explained that the film’s director Wash Westmoreland and other actors in the cast contributed to the discussion around watering down the lesbian sex scenes.

“I always think what’s more important is what’s left to the imagination,” Knightley said.

“That’s my personal preference; always. You can imagine a lot by being shown quite a little, you know.”

Knightley’s new film Colette details the French novelist’s lesbian affairs

Colette made its world premiere on January 20 at the Sundance Film Festival.

Knightley with comedian Simon Amstell and her husband James Righton. (Tim P. Whitby/Getty)

• Dec 01

16 TV stars you grew up watching who later came out as LGBTQ+