Kristen Stewart has confessed that she continues to be profoundly haunted by her portrayal of Princess Diana in the 2021 biographical drama 'Spencer', three years after the film's release. The actress, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her transformative performance, revealed in a recent interview that thoughts of the late royal still bring her to the verge of tears.
An Enduring Emotional Connection
Stewart disclosed to The Telegraph that she remains deeply affected by the experience, stating emphatically, "I still am. I can't drive around London, and Paris for that matter, without thinking about her... all the love that poured out of this woman." She added with raw emotion, "I can cry about her at any moment." This enduring connection underscores the intensity of her immersion into Diana's world during the filming process.
The Physical Transformation and Shared Trauma
The actress described the elaborate costumes she wore as "part of the armour" that enabled her to inhabit Diana's physical presence. Set during a bleak Christmas at Sandringham in 1991, the film explored Diana's struggles with the royal family, her eating disorder, and the collapse of her marriage to Prince Charles. Stewart reflected that the wardrobe "allowed me to step into her physical space and create images of her in this prison of a castle."
Stewart also acknowledged a personal resonance with Diana's experiences, having faced intense media scrutiny herself following her role in the Twilight franchise. "It does kind of soul-suck," she remarked about the relentless public attention. "Her rebellious qualities felt so desperate, and so young and so vulnerable." This shared understanding of media pressure informed her nuanced portrayal.
Spiritual Encounters and Emotional Aftermath
During the film's production, Stewart reported experiencing "spooky, spiritual feelings" and sensed Diana's approval for her performance. She told the LA Times, "Even if I was just fantasising. I felt like there were moments where I kind of got the sign-off. She felt so alive to me when I was making this movie... But there were moments where my body and mind would forget she was dead."
The emotional toll of the role left Stewart feeling "a bit like a shell" when filming concluded, a sensation she believes mirrored Diana's own experiences. "I think she did too. That was the point," she observed, highlighting the profound empathy she developed for the princess.
Moving Forward with New Projects
Princess Diana tragically died in a Paris car crash in August 1997, but her legacy continues to resonate through portrayals like Stewart's. Meanwhile, the actress has shifted her focus to directing, with her new psychological drama The Chronology of Water releasing in the UK this week. The film, which premiered at Cannes nine months prior, follows a woman played by Imogen Poots who channels childhood trauma into success as a competitive swimmer.
Despite this new venture, Stewart's connection to Diana remains palpable, illustrating how certain roles leave an indelible mark on an actor's psyche long after the cameras stop rolling.
