The important reason Keira Knightley banned her daughter from watching two Disney films

Keira Knightley is promoting her Walt Disney upcoming movie The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and in a recent TV appearance she admitted that there are some movies she has banned her daughter from watching.

The 33-year-old actress spoke to Ellen on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, and revealed she didn't like certain films produced by the studio as they don't portray princesses in a feminist light.

One of these movies is Cinderella. The other? The Little Mermaid.

"Banned!" she exclaimed, referring to the former:

Because she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her. Don't! Rescue yourself. Obviously! And this is the one that I'm quite annoyed about because I really like the film, but Little Mermaid [is banned, too].

I mean, the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello! But the problem with The Little Mermaid is I love The Little Mermaid. That one's a little tricky - but I'm keeping to it!

Some of Disney's feature films haven't aged well. For example, Pocahontas, which is often hailed as a success for the studio's portrayal of a strong female woman of colour, belies the brutal and sad history of the real Pocahontas.

A number of their earlier features, including The Jungle Book, Dumbo, Fantasia and The Aristocats, to name a few, have all been accused of perpetuating various harmful stereotypes.

Still, DeGeneres insists, there are a few recent Disney movies that move away from damaging narratives and are genuinely good...

Frozen is huge and Moana is totally fine... There are some good ones, but mainly Dory.

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