Keira Knightley reveals husband’s childish eating nearly ruined their early romance

Published 2 hours ago
Source: metro.co.uk
Black Doves star Keira Knightley has revealed that her relationship with husband James Righton nearly hit an rather early stumbling block thanks to his ‘childish’ habit. The popular actress admitted that she was forced to issue what she described as ‘an ultimatum’ after realising the Klaxons vocalist followed unexpectedly fussy eating habits that barely stretched beyond cheese on toast. It’s a surprisingly mundane domestic problem for one of Britain’s most famous pairings, but one which offers up a rare glimpse into the couple’s private life, which they usually keep firmly under wraps (presumably plain cheddar-filled wraps with no sauce or salad). (Picture: Getty Images)
Speaking on the Dish from Waitrose podcast with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, Keira explained that James’s approach to food was a genuine concern when they first started dating. While she enjoys gastronomy, even if she doesn’t overly enjoy cooking, she says James seemed baffled by the entire concept of dining out. Restaurants weren’t a treat or a social experience to him, but something to be avoided entirely. For Keira, that disconnect quickly became impossible to ignore. (Picture: Getty Images)
Recalling the early warning signs, Keira said: ‘He just couldn’t cook, all he ate was cheese on toast. I was like, “This is not going to work”.’ She explained that meals at home were all pretty limited and extremely repetitive. And things didn’t improve when it came to eating out, either. James simply didn’t see the point in going out for a bite. ‘He wouldn’t even go out for dinner. He didn’t understand going to restaurants. He was bizarre,’ she added, sounding both amused and faintly alarmed at the memory. (Picture: Getty Images)
Keira decided that she simply had to intervene. She admitted she ended up ‘training’ James, comparing him to a child when it came to trying new food. It wasn’t something she tackled alone. Instead, she called in reinforcements in the form of her oldest friend, someone she described as ‘a proper old-school bon viveur‘. Together, they made it their mission to broaden James’ horizons and introduce him to flavours beyond melted cheese on hot bread. (Picture: Getty Images)
Keira explained it like this to Nick and Angela: ‘My oldest friend and I, we basically trained him.’ Their approach involved repeated trips to restaurants, where James was gently but persistently encouraged to try dishes he would normally refuse. The resistance was immediate. According to Keira, he would sit at the table refusing to engage, reluctant to taste anything unfamiliar and needing constant reassurance from those around him. (Picture: Getty Images)
The solution was unexpectedly theatrical. James would close his eyes before taking a bite, as if bracing himself. ‘We took him out to restaurants and he wouldn’t try anything. He was like a child. He used to shut his eyes, and we’d be like, “Try it, try it!”’ Keira said. The encouragement eventually paid off, though not without drama. Every small success was treated like a major breakthrough at the table. (Picture: Getty Images)
Eventually, James began to soften. After reluctantly tasting something new, he would concede defeat. ‘He’d be like “OK, it’s nice, it’s nice!”’ Keira recalled. The moment marked progress, even if it came slowly. What started as an awkward early dating issue became something the couple can now laugh about, a reminder that even long-term relationships sometimes begin with compromise, patience and a bit of friendly pressure. (Picture: Getty Images)
Keira and James married in 2013 in the south of France and now share two children together, 10 year-old Edie and six year-old Delilah. While they tend to keep their family life out of the spotlight, Keira’s candid story struck a chord for its honesty and relatability. Behind the red carpets and awards, it turns out even Hollywood couples have to negotiate eating habits, restaurant reluctance and the occasional ultimatum over too much cheese on toast. (Picture: Getty Images)

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