Kristen Stewart's Candid Critique of Hollywood's Treatment of Actresses
Kristen Stewart, the acclaimed actress who rose to fame through the Twilight saga, has revealed the compelling reasons behind her recent transition from acting to directing. In a frank interview with The Sunday Times, Stewart, now 35, opened up about the systemic issues facing female performers in Hollywood that influenced her career shift.
A Stark Contrast in Professional Respect
Stewart made her directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's 2011 memoir. She described a noticeable difference in how she was treated when discussing her film as a director compared to her experiences as an actress. "People think anyone could be an actress, but the first time I sat down to talk about my movie as a director, I thought, 'Wow, this is a different experience, they are talking to me like I'm somebody with a brain,'" Stewart explained. This revelation highlights the disparity in professional respect between roles traditionally dominated by men and those occupied by women.
The Harsh Reality for Female Actors
The actress did not mince words about the treatment of women in the industry. "Actresses get treated like s***, I've got to tell you," she stated bluntly. Stewart elaborated that this treatment is particularly severe for female actors compared to their male counterparts. "Not to sound like I'm complaining all the time, but it's worse for female actors than male ones — they get treated like puppets, but they are not." She criticised the perpetuation of the myth that directors possess "otherworldly abilities," an idea she attributes primarily to men within the industry.
Confronting Gender Bias in Acting Methods
Stewart recalled a telling conversation with a respected male actor that underscored the gender biases prevalent in acting approaches. She challenged the notion of Method acting, stating, "I said there are no female Method actors because Method acting is an acrobatic performance to make acting seem like a feat that it is not." She believes acting is fundamentally about "playing pretend" rather than requiring intense physical preparation. When she highlighted the distinction between male and female actors, the actor became defensive, claiming he had "never met an actress that wasn't crazy." Stewart noted that in the past, such a comment would have provoked anger, but with age, she has found a calmer way to assert her perspective.
A Personal and Political Filmmaking Vision
Her directorial project, The Chronology of Water, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim and a standing ovation, tackles difficult themes like childhood trauma and addiction. Stewart believes her gender directly influenced her filmmaking choices. "If I was a man I wouldn't have made this movie," she shared. "We have to deny our physicality every single day and there is so much — like birth — that is so painful and also quite beautiful, but we don't share it because it is uncomfortable and icky." She expressed a desire to challenge a system that silences women's experiences, stating, "I wanted to speak to a world designed to silence women. We have to push people out of the way to get our experience seen and that pisses people off."
Hollywood, Trump, and Future Ambitions
Stewart also reflected on the broader political landscape affecting Hollywood, particularly under Donald Trump's influence. She endured a public clash with Trump in 2012 when he criticised her personal life on social media. Stewart voiced her disillusionment with America's current direction, saying, "Reality is breaking completely under Trump." However, she remains determined to create change, advocating for crafting "the reality we want to live in."
Looking ahead, Stewart revealed ambitions to make films abroad, specifically in Europe, and then "shove them down the throat of the American people." This bold statement underscores her commitment to challenging American audiences with international perspectives, while not completely abandoning her roots.
From Child Star to Oscar-Nominated Director
Stewart's career began at age 12 with a role in David Fincher's Panic Room alongside Jodie Foster. She achieved global fame as Bella Swan in the Twilight series and earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer (2022). Her personal life has also been in the spotlight, from her relationship with co-star Robert Pattinson to her marriage to Dylan Meyer in 2023. Now, with The Chronology of Water praised by critics like Variety as "a stirring drama of abuse and salvation, told with poetic passion," Stewart is forging a new path as a director determined to amplify women's voices in cinema.
