MPHO RANTAO
PRINCESS DIANA – celebrated worlwide as the real queen of hearts – is heading for our screens.
Her life is a major feature in a new biographical film on the British Royal family.
American actress Kristen Stewart has been cast to play the late Welsh Princess Diana in a film titled Spencer.
Images released to the public show Stewart with an uncanny resemblance portraying the late Princess in a red blazer and a black hat with a veil, with the Princess’ classic blonde feathered bob.
The story of Spencer, written by Steven Knight and directed by Pablo Larraín, tells the tale of Lady Di’s pivotal weekend away at Sandringham House, which is Queen Elizabeth’s II private estate, where the late princess decides to go through her divorce from Prince Charles, whom she had married in 1981.
The royal couple officially divorced in 1996, after being separated in 1992 due to a long public battle surrounding Prince Charles’ infidelity.
Princess Diana died in 1997 aged 36, in a motor vehicle accident in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris, along with her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul. She was the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry.
The publishing of the Spencer still comes after Netflix’s British royal drama The Crown debuted its fourth season, with newcomer actor Emma Corrin in the role of the Princess of Wales in a critically-acclaimed portrayal.
In an interview with American magazine InStyle, Kristen Stewart said that while she was excited to be playing in such a big role and was supported by dialect coaches and British historians, she was mostly nervous about getting Lady Di’s unique posh accent right in the film.
“The accent is intimidating as all hell because people know that voice, and it’s so, so distinct and particular,” Stewart said.
She had also read two Diana biographies ahead of the shoot in order to more fully prepare herself. “I’m finishing all the material before I actually go make the movie,” Stewart continued on her preparations for the role.
“It’s one of the saddest stories to exist ever, and I don’t want to just play Diana—I want to know her implicitly. I haven’t been this excited about playing a part, by the way, in so long.”
Other biographical work featuring Stewart includes her roles as actress Jean Seberg and rock legend Joan Jett.
Director Pablo Larraín has also had his experience in biopics, being at the helm of the films on Spanish poet Pablo Neruda and former US first lady Jackie Kennedy (later Onassis), both of which received critical acclaim.
