Kristen Stewart, star of the upcoming Princess Diana biopic Spencer, says she thinks she has only made “five really good films.” The actress, 31, has starred in 47 feature films over her career, and is continuing to expand her filmography with several dramatic roles. Stewart first impressed audiences as Jodie Foster’s daughter in David Fincher’s 2002 thriller Panic Room at the age of 12. Years later, Stewart became a Hollywood star as the lead of the Twilight franchise in her role as Bella Swan. Though lambasted by critics (and some audiences) the Twilight films were a big box office success. Following her Twilight role, Stewart proved herself as an actress of substance with more dramatic performances in films such as Still Alice and Woody Allen’s Café Society.
In Spencer, Stewart takes on the role of the late Princess Diana in a film that explores the royal’s struggle under a more personal lens. Spencer looks to hold nothing back in its portrayal of the mental health effects royal life had on the Princess, and will follow her in a period of time in which she decided to end her marriage with Prince Charles. Directed by Pablo Larrain, who also directed the Jackie Kennedy biopic Jackie, and written by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, Spencer has already been tipped to be a big player during awards season. Premiering at Venice Film Festival in September, the film’s central performance by Stewart is one of the main elements being praised by critics.
In an interview with the Sunday Times amid press for the new Royal biopic, Stewart claimed she had “probably made five really good films” in her career. Defining the criteria for said films, she explained “Ones that I go, ‘wow, that person made a top-to-bottom beautiful piece of work!” When pushed to name the films she considers the cream of the crop, Stewart instead turned to her performances for director Olivier Assayas, saying she “love[s]” his movies. Stewart wouldn't name which films that didn't make her top list, but was honest enough to claim that the great movies are “few and far between”. Read her full quote below:
"I’ve probably made five really good films, out of 45 or 50 films? Ones that I go, ‘Wow, that person made a top-to-bottom beautiful piece of work!’ […] I love Assayas’s movies, […] I’d have to look at my credit list. But they are few and far between. That doesn’t mean I regret the experience [of making them].”
Stewart’s early work on the Twilight movies often led to criticism of her acting abilities, though recent performances have proven that Stewart is in no way defined by her blockbuster performances. The films she points to as her best; the works of French director Assayas, include 2014’s Clouds of Sils Maria and 2016’s Personal Shopper. Stewart’s role in Clouds of Sils Maria, as a supporting actress opposite Juliette Binoche, led to her first major acting accolade. In 2015, Stewart became the first American actress to win a French Cesar Award, the equivalent to the Oscar. Stewart was named Best Supporting Actress, signifying her move toward a more dramatic filmography.
Stewart looks to replicate her French cinema success back home, as Spencer is pegged for nominations in the upcoming awards season. Tackling the challenging role of the reserved but struggling Princess of Wales, Stewart has been praised for both her embodiment of anguish and for her performance's uncanny resemblance to the iconic figure. As Spencer heads toward release, Stewart is ready to make her mark on audiences again, and will no doubt find herself in many more substantial dramatic roles in the years ahead.
Source: Sunday Times
