I really enjoyed Emma Corrin’s performance as Lady Diana Spencer/Princess Diana in Season 4 of The Crown. I thought that the “Diana” character would be unplayable, just because Diana is so iconic and so KNOWN. But Emma found a way to do it through wigs, terrific accent work and head tilts. Was it a perfect Diana replica? No, but it wasn’t supposed to be.
Now that Emma worked out the puzzle, it’s time to enjoy other actresses playing Diana. Like, Kristen Stewart, the American lip-biter best known for the Twilight franchise. Kristen was cast in the film Spencer last year, and the film is about a very specific moment in time, in the early 1990s, as Diana and Charles’ marriage was irreparably broken. The production released this first image of Kristen-as-Diana. It looks… good? The head tilt! And really, the eyes. Kristen has those striking eyes. Facially, Diana and Kristen have a lot of similarities. But I’m still not sure Kristen will be able to do Diana’s voice at all.
This first photo marks the start of principal photography on Spencer. The director is Pablo Larrain, who directed Natalie Portman in her Oscar-nominated performance in Jackie (she played Jackie Kennedy). I had my doubts about Portman in that role too, but I really enjoyed Jackie and it was one of the better performances I’ve seen from Portman. Will Larrain work his magic with K-Stew? Or will this just a sucky off-brand version of The Crown?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
The picture is striking. It looks like Princess Diana.
I hope it does not suck, i kind of want to see it now.
And you know Charles will have an insane fit over it and plant all kinds of, well you know this is fiction, right?
Looking forward to it.
Hoping this show kicks off around the same time as the next series of The Crown gets released in N. America – BRF and RR will have FITS.
If Meghan gets her summary judgment denied, and the case goes to trial in the autumn, House Petty is going to be in a world of butthurt entirely of their own making.
Maybe I should go upset some hedge funders and buy shares in popcorn.
Oh! Just read this from Vogue:
“Spencer is expected to be released in fall 2021, whereas The Crown is rumored to have a 2022 premiere date.” 2022 will be the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death.
House Petty’s in for a bumpy ride next couple of years, I suspect. Bless. /smirk/
I don’t they Kristen is suited for the role AT ALL. I don’t think she has much range and always plays a certain type of character.
Totally agree she is NOT SUITED in the slightest.
Totally different energy between the two women. Diana needs a very specific coy but also savvy combo, plus the IT factor. It is so much more than just a head tilt. It is a whispery, I-love-you-and-we-share-a-secret quality that came out even at a distance.
Stewart is hard and sulky, and really just a vampire dud as far as I’m concerned.
Diana’s height was a thing too. Kristin is what 5 feet? That’s some serious camera angle work they’ll be doing.
I just looked it up and she is 5 inches shorter than Diana… that’s for sure part of the thing.
Stewart’s eyes never really conveyed empathy. More squinting than anything. Wigs and head tilts will only get you so far.
I love K Stew and my first thought was she’s too pretty to be Diana. Diana was cute, Kristen I think is very striking and beautiful in a waif like way. And I do think she’s a good actress, but I can’t think of her in any role where she was very effervescent (like Diana). Hope it’s good though, but I would have probably cast differently.
Gosh I feel the opposite. The world over had an insatiable appetite foe Diana’s charisma & relatable beauty. We’ll forget k stew face in 50 yrs- but never Diana’s.
I feel this is an insulting cast- Diana was authentic & ahead of her time, not brooding & frail. I loved k stew as Joan Jett- but how on God’s Earth will that millennial voice pull off Spencer posh??
I really like Kristen in some performances but I don’t think she can embody the empathy, the instincts of Diana, especially at that point in Diana’s life.
I think she could play the insecurity beautifully but probably not the Diana finding her feet, voice, and rage. Also, I think after Emma gave such a beautifully performance that Kristen’s will suffer in comparison.
I liked Jackie though so willing to give it a watch.
Emma portrayed Diana and now Kristen is attempting to do Emma as Diana. At least this is the feeling I am getting from looking at this picture.
We’ve all heard her do her version of an English accent… it’s not good.
I agree. I haven’t seen her in much but from what I have, she has little range and is too flat. I would think they could have found someone more suited. Also, the height thing would bug me. The actress playing Diana doesn’t have to be model tall but she shouldn’t be short, which Stewart is.
She simply doesn’t have the charisma Diana had – that came through even in photographs. Her smile was dazzling and her empathy and engagement shone through in her eyes. Kristen may be able to nail the “look” but not the personality.
Agreed.
But, if the film is focussing on the specific period of time when Diana was at her lowest, a lot of that dazzle was muted. In that perspective, I think that Kristen may be able to pull it off. At that time, Diana was faking her outward happiness and sparkle…and that’s sort of how Kristen is.
I am surprised at how good the pic looks, it’s very convincing.
But I agree that her range is limited. She always plays a version of herself and doesn’t disappear into her roles, which I think is going to be a big problem trying to play such an icon.
Edit – ah I see Lexy has already said the same thing a few comments down!
I agree. She’s not warm or kind energy wise – Diana really had that warmth under all the glamour, which she wasn’t really that into. She was a genuine humanitarian. Borrowed a copy of Andrew Morton’s book and that’s how she came across.
Speaking as a Gen X who never saw any of her other movies (including Twilight), I thought she gave a really understated but beautiful performance in Still Alice – have seen it a few times now and each time I still have a good weep (well… the first time was an actual ugly cry) in the final scene with Kristen and Julieanne Moore…
Well, she’s got the look down. I think Kristen has it in her to do the role justice.
I tend to agree. I think KStew gets a bad rap for things beyond acting…probably because RPatz is more likeable? Eh?
Either way, I am intrigued.
Wow. She really looks just like her. I’m concerned about her acting in this, though…
I agree though that Natalie was outstanding in Jackie. It was a curious take on her, but it worked really well and was a beautiful performance.
Yeah, I agree. I think the picture looks good, but it’s her acting that has me curious. I like Kristen, but she has the same acting style with everything she’s in. She keeps her actual mannerisms in every movie. I’ve never seen her disappear in a character, I’ve always seen Kristen playing said role. But I guess we’ll see!
@lexy, totally agree. I watched the trailer for Seberg a little while ago just to see if she’s improved and no, she is the same as she was in the twilight franchise IMO. The way she talks, the tics, the blinking. She’s fine to watch in some movies but she can’t embody anyone else but herself so fictional characters are all she can do well IMO. All I see is Kristen Stewart when I watch her.
@Emm I agree. I’ve seen her in some other movies since Twilight and she’s basically just playing herself always. She’s not a bad actress, per se, she just doesn’t have a lot of range.
My mom, sister, and I all excitedly saw Jackie as soon as it was in theaters near us – all 3 of us fell asleep despite the film being relatively short so I hope this one is more interesting as we love anything Diana related!
Well, I guess time will tell with the acting, but that picture sure is a dead ringer for Diana.
I think Kristen will do well in the part because the director knows what he is doing and would not have cast someone who could not “do” the role.
I have to give it to whoever cast her, I never would have seen it but she really does pull off the look. I guess they can make her seem taller with heels and camera angles (it wouldn’t be authentic to have people towering over Diana), but I can’t help but think we’ll watch this and only see it as KStew in cosplay. Happy to be wrong about that.
She looks great! However, I’ve never been that impressed with Kristen’s acting chops so forgive me if I’m not rushing to see this.
After the Naomi Watts’ ‘Diana’ disaster🤢🤢🤢; ANYTHING is an improvement.
And Pablo Larrain is a good one.
Plus Princess Diana on celluloid appears to be having a renaissance.
Unlike Jackie movies, almost all Diana biopics have been critical disasters.
First, Emma Corrin, and now maybe Kristen Stewart, can make amends to that.
I could be wrong, but I think Kristen might surprise us with this one.
I think so too
Stewart’s indie film work is well regarded, and Larrain has a knack for casting so I’m looking forward to this.
Physically she actually looks great but we’ll have to see if she actually can play the part
This is so outside of her wheelhouse — if she can pull it off, she’ll probably win an Oscar.
I actually don’t think she will look like her when we see the full thing.. too skinny. Wrong cheekbones and most important height!!! Kristin must be a good 8 inches shorter and that actually is important when the Diana character is next to Charles. Also Diana had a range of emotions that were well captured by Corrin. KS can do the angst but I can’t see her doing the joy. And the accent will be interesting. I’m actually surprised that KS chose to do this role.
I’m going to go on an unusual rant: Nobody who has played Diana so far has the right schnoz. Diana’s nose was epic. Unique. Brilliant. I absolutely hate it that so many actresses and models shave their big noses down to identical little slivers. Celebrate the the schnoz!
Her nose made that face memorable. The lovely blue eyes were something plenty of blue eyed blondes have. But that nose, I’ve not really seen its equal on anyone else. Even in her own family, it’s unique. None of her sisters or nieces nor her mother nor any aunts that I’ve seen have it. Nor the male family members. Where in her family line did that nose come from? I’ve seen the rumors that she and Jemima Khan were half sisters and they do have similar noses, but not quite similar enough I can’t put it down to coincidence. I can see where otherwise, Diana looked like a Spencer.
At any rate it is really hard to get Diana’s look down without a good sized nose and a curved one at that. I’m astonished at how Emma Corrin managed to nail the appearance so well even with a regular nose. So it can be done, but still, I’m waiting to see a blonde actress with a spectacular nose take on the role. Then I shall be at peace. 😂
There is a theory that Diana is a Goldsmith, not a Spencer. Google the images of the Goldsmith clan; it’s shocking how Diana fits in.
As for KStew as Di, when I first saw the photo linked above, I thought it was a pic of the lady who plays Camilla on the Windsors on set in costume.
Yes that rumor is one I’ve looked at. There are some uncanny resemblances there. I saw a picture of Jemima Goldsmith Khan in her preteens that I actually mistook for a picture of Diana as a child. But looking at these rumors turned up some ugly Anti Semitic conspiracy theories. Ugh.
That’s so true, everyone says Kitty Spencer looks like Diana but I don’t see it cause she’s minus the nose, people don’t really prize big noses either and most times they’re hard to pull off, that’s why Diana was so rare.
How tall is the actor who will play Charles?
She’s about 5 inches too short to play Diana.
I think Kristin is a terrible choice! She doesn’t have the depth of range to play such a complex icon that is Diana.
Of all the actresses and they pick the teen vampire girl who hasn’t done anything of note sincer those terrible movies? Barf. I dont want to see her ruin this movie.
Loved Emma in The Crown, she was lovely and such a good choice.
I think Emma did an excellent job! It’s really hard to capture the essence of a woman so beloved. I’m the same way with Audrey Hepburn. So far every actress that has tried to play her isn’t even REMOTELY worthy. I feel the same about Wonder Woman. Gal definitely had the right look and physicality but she still ain’t no Lynda Carter!
I thought Emma was terrific.
Very strange.
Looks like she has on some prosthetics. Good Luck to K-Stew. The British press is going to bash her, even it she does a good job, because they believe they are the sole gate keepers of Diana’s legacy. I wonder if Clarence House is going to complain about this movie like they did the Crown.
KS playing Diana makes as much sense to me as Lindsey Lohan playing Elizabeth Taylor. She’s such an odd choice. I don’t have anything against KS, but I just cannot see it. She’s physically not a good fit for the role–too short, too thin, too petite in general to match Diana. As for acting, KS tends to be very wooden and stiff. I can’t see her pulling off a demure English accent. Maybe I’ve just been spoiled by Emma Corrin, who I think pulled Diana off so flawlessly that it made my head spin watching her.
This is a bold move on Kristens part so I admire her taking on this challenge. I didn’t think Portman was a good choice for Jackie but Larrain obviously knew what he was doing and they pulled it off beautifully.
Kristen’s done some excellent indie films but none required her inhabiting an iconic figure. My guess is this will either be a disaster or a smashing success ( and no in between)
I’m pulling for her….
That picture is amazing, I loved Jackie so I can’t wait for this movie.
I hope Kristen wows us. I don’t think she’s a great actress, but she’s really endeared herself to me post Twilight era. I really liked her in Happiest Season – she was very sweet in it (and I wanted her to end up with Aubrey Plaza’s character, damn it!).
OH. MY. GOD. Kristen Stewart is only famous cause she has parents in the industry and she plays the same awkward, lip biting character is every film. Sorry, but it’s seriously an insult to Diana’s memory to have KS play her.
She has never made a movie that I liked, so it is difficult to judge her acting. I don’t think any one expected Renee Zellwiger to be fantastic as Bridget Jones so you never know.
Is there some new take on Diana that deserves another movie? I remember her so well that I am always disappointed.
Y’all think she looks just like Diana here but she’s wearing a hat and a face covering, her head is tilted away from the camera, the perspective is from underneath and the background is almost black? Ok.
Agreed lol! Also, Kristen and Diana look nothing alike, from features to bone structure they are completely different (I think they’re both beautiful btw.)
Kristen Stewart isn’t my favourite, but I like the look of this first photo. I wouldn’t write her off just yet on this role. She is the first American to win a César after all – she might give a stunning performance!
I loved Emma Corin, she was amazing.
I don’t know how to feel about this.
We have to wait and see.
I like KStew in the movie where she played Jean Seberg. Maybe I just loved the costumes and the set–which were gorgeous. The costumes and the sets should have won an Oscar as they are so beautiful. She is way to short to play Diana and doesn’t have the charisma that Diana had. Diana was so striking that you just couldn’t take your eyes off of her. Meryl Streep is like that. As soon as she comes on the screen, you are riveted by her.
I like Kristen and Larrain is an amazing director, but this is such an odd choice. That said there was an uproar when Larrain picked Natalie Portman, so I almost wonder if he gets a kick out of picking odd choices & then being seen as “the amazing director who got x or y to pull off a role.”
Anyway, Kristen’s given well received performances in a slew of indies & the screenwriter is amazing so maybe Larrain will pull it off and create another great film. Who knows? That said even if she’s amazing a lot of people will hate it because Diana so iconic, much like a lot people and even some critics hated Natalie’s Jackie performance, so I’m surprised she took the role.
Kristen is ok in a lot of roles and I agree she can transform decently.
But she doesn’t look much like her in the photo and I doubt she’ll have the energy. I’m sure she can play vulnerable and mysterious but Diana also had an active charisma which Stewart doesn’t have.
I think the accent will not be great. But I guess we’ll see.
I don’t remember there being that much backlash about Natalie Portman playing Jackie. I know lots of people didn’t think it would be great but it’s not as weird of a casting choice for Jackie as Kristen is for Diana. I also think Portman is a significantly better actress even though I prefer Kristen’s personality.
This will either be a disaster or a masterpiece. Really hoping that the director hires her a legit dialect coach who she works with intensively, and that he also brings in a shorter actor to play Charles to balance out KS’ short frame. This will for sure be an interesting watch. I’m intrigued to see it.
Nah sorry Kristen I just don’t see it working. Diana is a hard woman to play, even Naomi watts couldn’t pull it off. Emma Corrin was great because I think it helps being an unknown playing a well known figure, that way the audience sees only the character and not the actor. Not to mention Kristens british accent in Snow White was terrible. I think it’s hard for Kristen because she was really good at playing an angsty grunge tween, but it’s hard to mature out of that image. But I do think she’s a good actress and I really hope she proves me wrong and pulls it off.
I think she might be fantastic. It’s certainly not a role she’s played before, and it probably scares her and that’s why she took it. I hope she meets the challenge.
The picture is striking, but she is a god awful one-note actress. Maybe she will surprise us, but I’m doubtful.
Can’t wait for this!!!! Since binging the Crown, I am all in for more royal shit. Bring it.
Well that one picture is right, but I have a feeling she’s not going to look like Di throughout the movie, Dis got more a softness to her face, Kristen has more of a hard face, she would be a better fit for a Sharon Stone biopic maybe or maybe even a Kate biopic lol, I don’t know.
The photo looks great but it’s a good costume, heavy shadow and a very specific angle of Kristen Stewart’s face. It is convincing but I’m curious if she can pull this off—she plays the same kind of roles and doesn’t have much range. I always thought she was perfect for Twilight because that character was passive, quiet, and brooding so didnt seem like much of a stretch. Time will tell
But what will happen when she has to smile?????
Open to being proven wrong but I don’t think Kristen’s given a good performance since Panic Room. She was natural as a kid. Bella wasn’t a demanding role so she was okay in Twilight too, actually. I see trailers of her in her indie films (and that under the sea one with Monica Belluci’s ex) and am not impressed by her inhibited, kind-of-sour energy. Read the Diana book by Andrew Morton recently and Diana seemed so cool and fresh and lovely under the slightly awkward/shy manner. She was a true humanitarian and hippy at heart and didn’t take herself too seriously – and she was raised to be humble, practical, and down to earth despite her aristocratic background (English are obsessed wit that stuff). She seemed to just have wanted to have been loved by Charles, for whatever reason (he was awful to her). Just don’t get that radiating kindness from Kristen but who knows, maybe she’ll be great.
Great look and she has both the charisma and skill to pull it off. Really hope now that other components of the movie will work 🙂
I just found out filming will be a bit too close for my taste to my home. Ugh… I wonder if I might spot Kristen. Lol.