Variety just published the first photo of Kristen in the upcoming film, Spencer.
Just announced co-stars include Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins and Sean Harris.
Principal photography is commencing with a release date sometime this fall.
You can read the article at ...
https://variety.com/2021/film/global/kristen-stewart-princess-diana-spencer-1233893255/
Is Stewart really a good choice for this?
shareThat's what everyone says every single time she gets any role
shareShe has never been nominated for an Oscar or Golden Globe.
shareIs that the criteria for a good actor/actress? That's like saying if you've never been in the top 10 in the olympics, you're not a good athlete.
shareShe's also been nominated for 5 Razzies for worst actress.
shareFacts are facts no Oscar
shareHitchcock and Kubrick never won one
shareThe irony is, Hollywood directors who never won a Best Director Oscar form my who's who list of all-time faves: Stanley Kubrick, Sergio Leone, Alfred Hitchcock, Terry Gilliam, Akira Kurosawa, David Lynch, Ridley Scott, Ingmar Bergman, Charlie Chaplin, Howard Hawks, Frank Darabont, David Fincher, Robert Altman, Sidney Lumet, Orson Welles, Arthur Penn, Spike Lee, Michael Mann, Quentin Tarantino, Federico Fellini, Luc Besson, Rob Reiner and Christopher Nolan.
Speaking of actresses, Meg Ryan, Pam Grier, Mia Farrow, Rene Russo, Jamie Lee Curtis, Demi Moore, Thandie Newton, Kirsten Dunst, Kerry Washington and Emily Blunt haven't even been nominated for an Oscar. The list of actresses who haven't won an Academy Award are much more staggering, led by Barbara Stanwyck, Greta Garbo, Deborah Kerr, Rita Hayworth, Jean Arthur, Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Lauren Bacall and Irene Dunne.
Kristen was awarded the French Cesar award, French film equivalent of an Oscar, for Clouds of Sils Maria. She's won several awards at Film Festivals for her roles, a young actress award.
Kristen also received awards from the most prestigious film critics groups (i.e., New York Film Critics Circle, National Society of Film Critics, Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association) for her role in Clouds of Sils Maria:
vulture.com/2015/12/nyfcc-2015-winners-carol.html
thewrap.com/spotlight-kristen-stewart-lead-national-society-of-film-critics-winners-updating-live/
hollywoodreporter.com/news/boston-society-film-critics-2015-846238
vulture.com/2015/12/los-angeles-film-critics-laud-spotlight-mad-max.html
Before the Oscars became overly political, winning such awards from the preeminent critics groups were a precursor to winning an Academy Award. Despite not winning an Oscar, it is a fact that Kristen is a critically acclaimed actress.
There will be a confrontation with the Diana of The Crown,potrayed in s4 by Emma Corrin and in s5 (and 6?) by Elizabeth Debicki ^^
shareThe 78th Golden Globe Awards nominees were announced earlier today, and while The Crown has had the most nominations of any series in the television category, including nominations for Best Television Series Drama, Best Performance by an Actress (Olivia Colman), and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Helena Bonham Carter)--Emma-Louise Corrin, who portrays Princess Diana in season four, like you mentioned, wasn't one of the nominees. Of course, it is inevitable that the performance of Emma-Louise Corrin will be compared to Stewart's, but had Corrin been nominated, it would have definitely been a hard act to follow for Stewart--perhaps it still might be as Corrin most certainly looked the part and captured Diana's shy yet charismatic, friendly and photogenic charm and overall persona rather well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EW6XqCaQjY
shareShe was nominated by the way
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK1XUCaBr-i/
I stand corrected. Funny how her nomination wasn't listed on some of the sites I checked out earlier yesterday such as CNN and was updated later in the evening to include her among the GG nominees. Thanks for posting.
shareWhile it remains to be seen if Kristen can become the role of Princess Diana--from that pic I can see that she definitely looks the part. Thanks for posting this Carved.
shareYou're welcome, LL.
As to whether or not Kristen can play this part, I have read that she is undergoing extensive voice coaching in order to sound as much like Princess Di as possible.
Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing what roles Kristen's co-stars have been cast in. None of the articles I've read nor IMDb have stated anything about that.
Right now, I'm guessing that Sean Harris will play Prince Charles, but this is only a guess.
And I don't have a clue about the roles Timothy Spall and Sally Hawkins will play.
Finally, you can expect a private message from me shortly.
EDIT: Just sent the PM
Like the phrase, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck, which is what actors strive to do. An excellent case in point is Kristen portraying a young woman suffering from the rare neuromuscular disorder, Friedreich's ataxia.
I recently uploaded a variation (can't find my original edit) of the video which you discussed in your PM to my YouTube channel, regarding Kristen's noteworthy performance in The Cake Eaters and would like to share a link to this video for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xrh_9mmFgM
So you're telling me that in the entire United Kingdom, there was not one single suitable actress to portray Diana Spencer, so they had to resort to an American? I wonder how the Brits feel about this?
shareYo, JaqenHgar, have you ever seen a film titled Genius (2016)?
It's an excellent film about Maxwell Perkins, an American book editor and his dealings with American authors, Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.
Colin Firth played Maxwell Perkins
Jude Law played Thomas Wolfe
Guy Pearce played F. Scott Fitzgerald
Dominic West played Ernest Hemingway
and
Nicole Kidman played Thomas Wolfe's love interest, Aline Bernstein, a Jewish American
In fact the only person in the main cast of these American characters who was an American was Laura Linney, who played Maxwell Perkins' wife, Louise.
Are you telling me that I should not appreciate the quality of the film and the performances therein because five of the six main characters were not played by Americans?
I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.
I didn’t say that, nor did my post even imply such. When I wrote this, the tone I was thinking about while writing it, was more of a surprised inquisitive tone. You’re assuming an incorrect tone and your reply indicates you thought my post tone was negative. Everything doesn’t always have to be perceived as negative. I just find it slightly surprising that someone as “revered” as Diana Spencer is/was, would be end up being played by an American actress. If Kristen can pull it off, more power to her.
shareI should preface my comment by stating that Carved is a virtual authority on everything Kristen Stewart. Until he replies to your post, I'll take it upon myself to answer your question the best way I know how, so please bear with me.
Kristen's father, John Stewart, is of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh ancestry. Kristen's mother, Jules Mann-Stewart, was born in Australia during a time when Australians were overwhelmingly of European, predominantly, British ancestry. A quick internet search will reveal a fact that very few people know--that Kristen is a quarter Ashkenazi Jewish (mother's side): https://ethnicelebs.com/kristen-stewart So while Kristen's parents and Kristen don't share the same national origin as Princess Diana, their ethnicity is quite similar. It is an undeniable fact that European American actors, Asian American actors and African American actors, for example, play characters based on their nation of origin counterparts all the time.
No wonder Kristen has chameleon looks. The irony is, I've recently completed a screenplay that I've been writing for the past two years, which I'm hoping Kristen will direct a movie based on, where her character is of part-Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Admittedly, I did not know this until after the fact and am pleasantly surprised to recently discover this bit of trivia. Getting back to the topic at hand.
Princess Diana was of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, French and German ancestry. If you want to split hairs, according to DNA testing--and thank goodness for that--she too had Middle Eastern blood coursing through her veins, namely Indian and Armenian. So good luck with finding an actress who'll better fit the bill. I won't deny the fact that there are scores of talented young British actresses--but how many of them can look and act the part of the former Princess Diana, and carry a film like Kristen can? Anyone you would specifically suggest who would've been a better choice? In Hollywood, looks are king, so looking the part is half the battle. If the actor can also become the character and transcend national boundaries in an increasingly globalized world where nation-states are viewed as artificial constructs--the reason why Kristen being cast is obvious.
Speaking of transcending national borders, and in this case, even ethnicity, I just wanted to add that Kristen played the titular role in Seberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7PKwmx7dg portraying the iconic American born French actress Jean Seberg. Stephanie Zacherek of Time magazine rated Stewart's performance as one of the top ten of 2019. One could use similar rationale by stating, "Why wasn't an actress of Swedish, English and German ancestry, who was fluent at speaking French, used instead of Kristen?" But then again, the French adore Kristen as an actress as she was awarded a Cesar award, France's equivalent to winning an Oscar at the Academy Awards, like Ron pointed out earlier.
Interesting bit of information on the ancestry of Kristen and her family and Princess Diana.
I must admit that at first I wondered a bit at Kristen or any American actress playing Diana, but at times I've also been surprised at British actors/actresses playing certain American roles. I just don't think it matters who plays a role as actors from around the world play different ethnic parts.
German born Diana Kruger comes to mind and also a Swedish actress but I forget the name. They've played American parts often and so well that I give them huge credit for the work they've put in to get accents right. Kristen did a great job with her English accent in Snow White and the Huntsman.
I was thinking Diana Kruger would have also been a good choice to play Jean Seberg who was part German. Ultimately, if the actor is good enough, they will disappear into the role, so much so that one barely recognizes the physical resemblance and other visual similarities they bear to the person they are trying to portray.
In the industry a great role is dubbed "actor proof" where the character is so well written, layered and defined that even an unskilled actor could pull it off. I'm not expecting Kristen to receive an actor-proof role, but I'm hoping the screenplay is written in a way, specifically the dialogue she's given, that will do her acting justice.
I forgot to mention how, much to the chagrin of some, regarding actors being cast in roles that bear little or no semblance to their own ethnicity, came to the forefront when Hollywood was accused of whitewashing, that is, casting white actors in non-white roles. (e.g., I would understand such an argument if Kristen was cast to portray a Black woman in a serious drama, although blackface may serve a purpose in a comedy film such as Robert Downey Jr.'s character Kirk Lazarus in the over-the-top, comedic actioner Tropic Thunder).
I also hope the screen play is done well, does service to the topic and also the actors. Poor writing or lazy screen play can turn a good story into a poor one and also label the cast as doing a poor job.
Another thing on roles is gay or non-gay actors playing opposite roles such as a romantic one. Sometimes there's criticism of that which I don't think is warranted. That would seem to limit actors and using that logic maybe could be extended to other roles such as police officers, military and more. And the essence of good acting is taking on any role.
The funny thing is in the past, Kristen was accused of playing herself. Now she's being criticized for playing someone she isn't. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn't.
shareI must admit that at first I wondered a bit at Kristen or any American actress playing Diana, but at times I've also been surprised at British actors/actresses playing certain American roles. I just don't think it matters who plays a role as actors from around the world play different ethnic parts.
[quote} Over the past few decades, other actresses such as Naomi Watts, Genevieve O'Reilly, Amy Seccombe, and more recently, Emma Corrin, have portrayed the role of Diana. While I'm no expert on Princess Diana like Jobson is, being a fan of Kristen for the past decade makes me qualified to give my two cent, humble opinion that Kristen resembles Diana the most in terms of an actress who's a spitting image and virtual dead ringer of Diana's physical likeness. And Robert Jobson seems to agree. [/quote]
I think Kristen can play the part, accent and all. I think a lot will be up to the script and story line and how much it lives up to actual events.
Diana's life ended in a wreck. I feel it inappropriate for an actress who looks like a wreck to play her.
shareI'll allow it so long as they have an accredited poetic license.
The reality is good makeup artists could make Lil'Wayne look like Princess Diana if they really wanted to... however in this instance they didn't seem to want to make her really look the part because they did nothing to change her nose which is worlds apart from the real Diana. This was apparently a celebrity cast simply to get people to watch because they though some old Twilight groupies would watch anything she was in.
shareHas she attempted an English accent in a previous role does anyone know?
shareI thought Kristen did well with her British accent in Snow White and the Huntsman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZfZI20H9OE&t=2s
In an interview with InStyle, Kristen admitted she has her work cut out for her and mentioned working with a dialect coach to help her sound authentic in the role of Princess Diana which she regards as "intimidating as all hell."
Interesting. Not too bad.
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