At eighteen, Kristen Stewart faced intense media attention during the release of the first Twilight film, an experience she says echoed the relentless scrutiny Princess Diana endured. Stewart, who portrayed Diana in the 2021 film Spencer, has drawn comparisons between her own struggles and the late princess’s battles with public and press intrusion.
During an interview with The Telegraph, Stewart described the emotional toll of fame, saying,
“It does kind of soul suck.”
She shared how, while filming Spencer, she connected deeply with Diana’s personality, recognizing her rebelliousness and vulnerability as reactions to the pressures she faced from a young age.
The actress observed,
“Her rebellious qualities felt so desperate, and so young and so vulnerable,”
highlighting the fragile nature beneath Diana’s public image. After completing the film, Stewart reflected on feeling emotionally exhausted, describing her state as “a bit like a shell.”
She came to realize how difficult life was for Diana at the time, stating,
“I think she did too. That was the point.”
Stewart’s immersion in the role reportedly stirred intense, even spiritual sensations during shooting, which she referred to as “spooky” around the film’s release.
In a separate interview with the LA Times, Stewart said,
“Even if I was just fantasising. I felt like there were moments where I kind of got the sign-off,”
and added,
“She felt so alive to me when I was making this movie, even if it was just a fantasy of mine. But there were moments where my body and mind would forget she was dead.”
Stewart’s commitment to inhabiting Diana’s character earned her an Academy Award nomination, a testament to her dedication in capturing the late princess’s complex persona. Reflecting on Diana’s enduring influence, Stewart told The Telegraph,
“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 also revealed,
“I can cry about her at any moment.”
Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in August 1997, an event that continues to resonate in the cultural memory and deeply influences Stewart’s portrayal. This role not only amplified Stewart’s empathy for Diana’s experience but also revealed the intense personal impact of embodying such a storied and scrutinized figure.
