Kristen Stewart on playing Princess Diana in Spencer: ‘I was nervous’

Kristen Stewart, who has taken on the role of Princess Diana, has revealed more of her fears and what she really thinks about Prince Harry and William.

Kristen Stewart said she was “debilitatingly nervous” to play Princess Diana in the new movie, Spencer.

The Hollywood actor, 31, is the subject of early Oscar buzz for her performance as the late People’s Princess in Pablo Larrain’s critically-acclaimed bio-pic.

“She just represents freedom and liberation to me, even in the moments when she’s locked inside of herself and inside of this institution,” Stewart told Vogue Australia, of the role.

“I was debilitatingly nervous.”

Wearing Chanel, Stewart appears on the cover of Vogue’s February issue, shot in Los Angeles on the famed Mulholland Drive.

Kristen Stewart in the February issue of Vogue Australia. Picture: Lachlan Bailey for Vogue Australia

Spencer is set at the Queen’s Sandringham estate during the Christmas holidays of 1991, as Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles was unravelling.

“I’m the same age as she was at the time when this all kind of shifted,” Stewart told Vogue. “And I’m so impressed with her, because I have lived a life that was really allowed to be open, and she was so stunted.

“But still, kind of at the same time, [she was] like: ‘Okay, my life is undeniable,’ and she kind of broke through. She just represents freedom and liberation to me, even in the moments when she’s locked inside of herself and inside of this institution.”

Wearing Chanel, Kristen Stewart opened up about her new role as Princess Diana in Spencer. Picture: Lachlan Bailey for Vogue Australia

Stewart said Diana’s legacy was embodied by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

“Diana’s legacy is walking and talking,” Stewart told Vogue.

“They’re both very clearly examples of two sides. And I don’t think either is right or wrong … I think that both of those boys function so positively in the world.

“I see her in them and – it’s funny, it’s a weird word to use – as a fan, as somebody who’s really been obsessively watching [Diana], it’s really nice to see.”

Stewart said shooting Spencer was “a hard job” but it “felt very, very, very good” to step into the role.

Kristen Stewart on the cover of Vogue Australia’s February issue, out now. Picture: Vogue Australia

“This imagined skin was something that made me feel amazing,” Stewart said.

“And that was kind of a surprise because her life was, in a nutshell, quite sad, but the joy in the centre of it is why it’s so sad.

“She had something to fight for that is so spectacular”.

By the end of shooting Spencer, Stewart said: “I just felt like I was at the top of the tippy-top, tallest staircase I had ever climbed up”.

In character as Princess Diana in a scene from Spencer.

At the Venice Film Festival last year. Picture: AFP

Christine Centenera, Vogue Australia fashion director, said the cover shoot was inspired by the 90s.

“Kristen was the perfect subject – she’s a free spirit, effortlessly cool, a deep thinker, and an incredible actress,” Centenera said.

“She inspires a younger generation through her work.

“The shoot took place in a house overlooking The Valley on Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles.

“Working with long time collaborator, Australian photographer Lachlan Bailey, we wanted to capture Kristen through a ‘90s lens wearing Chanel’s recently-released spring/summer ’22 collection.”

The February issue of Vogue Australia is out now.

Originally published as Kristen Stewart on playing Princess Diana in Spencer: ‘I was nervous’