Photo Credit; Getty Images
Kristen Stewart has opened up about the lasting emotional impact of portraying Princess Diana in the 2021 film Spencer, revealing that the experience continues to stay with her years after production ended. The performance, which earned the actor an Academy Award nomination, explored a difficult period in Diana's life and left a personal impression Stewart says she has not shaken off.
Reflecting on the role, Stewart explained that memories of Diana surface whenever she spends time in places closely linked to the late royal. Speaking to The Telegraph, she said: "I still am. I can't drive around 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." She described feeling "haunted" by Diana, adding that the emotional response has lingered long after filming concluded.
The scrutiny Diana faced in public life resonated strongly with Stewart, who experienced intense media attention following her rise to fame in the Twilight franchise. Drawing that parallel, she remarked, "She was plucked, plucked to death [by paparazzi]. And her rebellious qualities felt so desperate, and so young and so vulnerable." She described the impact of such attention as something that "does kind of soul-suck," and said that by the end of filming she felt depleted, noting, "I did feel a bit like a shell, and I think she did too. That was the point."
Initially, Stewart was hesitant about accepting the role and pushed back against the idea, believing the director should consider casting someone else. She felt there were noticeable physical differences between herself and Princess Diana — particularly their appearance — which made her question whether she was the right fit for the part. Despite her concerns, Pablo Larraín remained firm in his decision and reassured her that the performance was not about surface similarities but about embodying the essence and emotional presence of the character.
Costume design also played a part in shaping her performance. Stewart explained, "The clothes were part of the armor," allowing her to "step into her physical space and create images of her in this prison of a castle yet wearing lavish, stunning pieces of clothing." She described that contrast as "a poem in itself."
Stewart previously said she sensed a connection to Diana during filming, recalling "spooky, spiritual feelings" and moments where she believed she had received the "sign-off" to portray her. "She felt so alive to me when I was making this movie, even if it was just a fantasy of mine," she said.
The project remains one of Stewart's most recognised roles, with Spencer focusing on three days in 1991 as Diana confronted tensions within the royal family. Years later, the emotional weight of embodying the princess continues to shape how Stewart reflects on the experience.
