Kristen Stewart has spoken openly about the emotional toll of playing Princess Diana, revealing how the role continues to haunt her years after filming. The American actress portrayed the late royal in the 2021 film Spencer, which depicted a fictionalized version of a tense Christmas in 1991 at Sandringham, exploring Diana’s personal crisis amid her husband’s infidelity. Stewart’s performance as Diana, Princess of Wales, earned critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination, but the experience left a deep and lasting impression on her. The role forced Stewart to confront the complex emotions surrounding the royal’s life, a challenge she says remains with her today.
Transformation Challenges and Physical Differences
The process of embodying Diana required Stewart to overcome significant physical and psychological hurdles. She noted to The Telegraph that there were apparent differences between herself and the princess, such as their height—Stewart stands at 5 feet 5 inches, while Diana was around 5 feet 10—and their eye colors, with Stewart’s green eyes contrasting with Diana’s famously blue ones. Commenting on this, Stewart said,
“There were some massive distinctions between her and me. It was the statuesque thing. It was the eye colour – I have green eyes; she has very famously blue eyes that match her ring.”
She humorously added,
“So I was like, ‘Should we make the engagement ring green, then?’”
— Kristen Stewart, Actress. Despite these physical disparities, Stewart was encouraged by director Pablo Larraín to focus on capturing Diana’s spirit rather than fixating on superficial details.
Director’s Vision and Casting Insight
Stewart believes that Larraín’s choice to cast her partly stemmed from an energy overlap and shared experiences. She reflected on Diana’s vulnerability and rebelliousness, relating it to her own life as a young movie star constantly in the public eye. Addressing this parallel, Stewart questioned,
“She was plucked, plucked to death [by paparazzi]. And her rebellious qualities felt so desperate, and so young and so vulnerable. Who can understand that better than a teenage movie star?”
— Kristen Stewart, Actress. This insight helped Stewart connect with Diana’s emotional state during the film’s critical moments.
The Emotional Exhaustion of the Role
The intensity of portraying such a complex figure weighed heavily on Stewart, leading her to describe the experience as “soul sucking.” She said near the end of filming, she felt emotionally drained, like “a bit like a shell.” Reflecting on Diana’s own struggles, Stewart added,
“I think she did too. That was the point,”
— Kristen Stewart, Actress. This shared sense of vulnerability deepened her performance and explains the ongoing emotional resonance the role holds for her.
Continued Emotional Connection and Haunting Memories
More than five years later, Stewart revealed she still feels the presence of Princess Diana in her day-to-day life. She admitted that simply driving through cities like London or Paris brings Diana to mind, with an overwhelming sense of the love the princess inspired. Stewart said,
“I can’t drive round this city, and Paris for that matter, without thinking about her. All the love that poured out of this woman… I can cry about her at any moment.”
— Kristen Stewart, Actress. This emotional bond highlights how deeply the role affected her psyche beyond the film’s production.
Preparations Involved in Perfecting Diana’s Mannerisms
To authentically portray Diana, Stewart underwent months of training with voice and movement coaches, dedicating herself to mastering the late royal’s unique presence. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, Stewart described the process as a full physical immersion, saying it was
“the most muscular, unintuitive, yet extremely instinctive thing.”
She reflected on the need to
“master it in order to kind of mess it up,”
emphasizing the complexity of capturing Diana’s essence while making it believable on screen. Stewart also expressed nuanced thoughts about spiritual connections, sharing,
“I don’t know if I believe in anything. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I don’t not believe in ghosts. I believe in a lingering energy.”
and
“I took her in, whether or not it was my idea of her or there was some actual literal remnant of her.”
— Kristen Stewart, Actress. These comments speak to the depth of emotional and psychological involvement Stewart experienced during the role.
The Enduring Significance of Stewart’s Portrayal
Kristen Stewart’s embodiment of Princess Diana in Spencer brought renewed attention to the late royal’s personal struggles and humanity, providing a deeply affecting depiction that resonated with audiences globally. The film’s fictionalized narrative, combined with Stewart’s intense preparation and emotional delivery, allows viewers to glimpse the fragility behind Diana’s public image. Stewart’s continued haunting by the role underscores the lasting impact of playing a figure so widely loved and scrutinized. Moving forward, her experience highlights the challenging demands actors face when portraying iconic and complex real-life individuals, especially those whose legacies carry profound cultural weight.
