Keira Knightley is opening up about the emotional whiplash she experienced during a pivotal year in her career. In a new Vanity Fair interview celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pride & Prejudice, Knightley, 40, recalled receiving an Oscar nomination for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in 2006 — while also being widely criticized for her performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

“I think in the public consciousness, I was seen as a terrible actress,” she admitted, despite Pirates being a major box office success. The contrast between acclaim and critique left the then-21-year-old star “quite confused.”

Knightley also reflected on earlier films like Bend It Like Beckham, saying she only remembers the negative reviews from her teenage years. Now, two decades on, Pride & Prejudice remains a fan favorite, recently returning to theaters to mark its legacy in cinematic romance.