London
(ANI):
Keira
Knightley
has
broken
up
with
her
boyfriend
of
five
years,
Rupert
Friend.
The
'Pirates
of
the
Caribbean" star,
25,
was
left
heartbroken
even
though
the
decision
to
end
the
relationship
was
mutual.
"Yes,
they
have
broken
up,"
the
Sun
quoted
Keira's
father
Will
Knightley
as
saying.
"They
were
together
for
quite
a
long
time
and
it
is
always
hard
breaking
up.
She''s
focused
on
her
work," her
father
added.
The
British
actress
met
Friend
in
2005
on
a
screen
adaptation
of
classic
story
Pride
and
Prejudice.
But
the
pressure
of
being
constantly
in
the
public
eye
finally
took
its
toll
on
the
couple.
Cracks
started
to
appear
in
mid-December
when
Friend
arrived
without
the
actress
at
the
London
Coliseum
gala
production
of
The
Nutcracker.
He
took
his
mother
Caroline
instead.
The
couple
split
after
a
heart-to-heart
before
Christmas.
But
a
pal
said:
"Rupert
hates
the
idea
of
being
followed
and
photographed.
Keira
partially
had
to
accept
it
because
of
her
rising
profile."
The
pal
added,
"It
affected
the
harmony
in
the
relationship.
The
pressure
took
its
toll
and
both
decided
they
should
go
their
separate
ways.
They
will
remain
life-long
friends."