Keira Knightley might have been expecting loud cheers from fans when she made her Broadway debut but instead, a proposal mid-performance led to a member of the audience being evicted by police.
The Oscar-nominated actress, 30, was playing the lead in Therese Raquin alongside Gabriel Ebert when the interruption occurred.
Witnesses reported seeing a man, since named as 29-year-old Landon Rust from Texas, stand up and shout at Knightley for 15 minutes during Thursday’s first night of previews. He was initially mistaken for a cast member.
“Christ was born a virgin! Keira, none of this is real! I love you! Keira, marry me!” Rust yelled from the mezzanine level at Studio 54 Theatre.
Knightley remained in character and carried on with the opening scene, but he did not give up and began badgering her for a response. “Five seconds is too long to wait for a response! Five seconds is a slow burn!” he continued.
Shortly afterwards, security attempted to remove him from the venue, but he broke free and threw a bouquet of roses at the stage. He was handcuffed and led away.
Jessica Johnson, representative for the Roundabout Theatre Company, told the Press Association that the safety of actors and audiences is taken very seriously and "extra security" will be added.
Knightley's publicist did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
