Before Kristen Stewart’s highly anticipated Kristen Stewart directing debut with the film The Chronology of Water, the former Twilight star reveals why she has shifted her focus from acting to directing. Stewart, 35, recently discussed her frustrations with the treatment of actresses, emphasizing how directing offers her a new sense of respect and authority.
Kristen Stewart Reflects on Challenges Faced by Female Actors
In an interview with The Sunday Times published on January 24, Stewart expressed blunt dissatisfaction with how actresses are often perceived and treated within the industry.
“Actresses get treated like s***, I’ve got to tell you,”
she said, highlighting the disrespect she’s endured. She contrasted this with the experience of being recognized as a director, noting,
“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 continued by criticizing the myth that directors possess extraordinary, almost magical, abilities. She attributed this misconception to a male-dominated culture, stating,
“There’s this idea that directors have otherworldly abilities, which is not true. It’s an idea perpetuated by men.”
She acknowledged the added difficulties female actors face, noting,
“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.”
Addressing Gender Differences in Acting and Industry Perceptions
Stewart recounted a telling confrontation with a male actor she admires, which exposed the gender biases within acting circles. She explained,
“And 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,”
adding,
“I think acting is just playing pretend; you don’t have to do 50 press-ups before a take.”
According to Stewart, the male actor responded defensively, insisting he had
“never met an actress that wasn’t crazy.”
Where this once might have triggered strong emotional reactions, Stewart has developed a calmer approach with maturity.
“A couple of years ago a comment like that would have made me turn red in the face, my ears would have started steaming and I would have seemed exactly like what he wanted me to seem like — an angry woman. Instead, I just continued and got to the end of my thought. Getting older is great because you can achieve a calm,”
she reflected.
From Child Star to Oscar Nominee: Stewart’s Journey to Directing
Kristen Stewart began acting at just 12 years old, playing the daughter of Jodie Foster’s character in David Fincher’s 2002 thriller Panic Room. She became a global sensation by 18 after starring as Bella Swan in the blockbuster Twilight series alongside Robert Pattinson. Her evolving craft earned her critical acclaim, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Princess Diana in the 2022 film Spencer.
Now, Stewart is directing The Chronology of Water, a film adaptation of American author Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir. The story follows Lidia, played by Imogen Poots, a young woman confronting the trauma of sexual abuse by her father, portrayed by Michael Epp. The cast also includes Thora Birch and Earl Cave.
Stewart’s Bold Vision for Directing Explores Uncomfortable Truths
On her choice to make this deeply personal film, Stewart expressed that if she were a man, the project would likely not have been made. She stated,
“If I was a man I wouldn’t have made this movie,”
attributing this to societal discomfort around certain topics. She elaborated,
“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.”
Stewart believes women’s experiences remain marginalized, saying,
“We’ve been pushed out of the canon in terms of expression. 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.”
Her directing debut aims to challenge this silence and bring forward stories often ignored or avoided in mainstream cinema.
What Stewart’s Move Behind the Camera Means for the Industry
Kristen Stewart’s transition to directing marks a significant moment not just for her personally, but for the film world as a whole. Her outspoken criticism of how actresses are treated and her decision to helm a film confronting difficult themes underline the growing demand for greater female representation and agency in filmmaking. As Stewart’s debut draws near, it may inspire other actors, especially women, to take control of their creative voices and challenge entrenched industry biases.
