‘Spencer’: Kristen Stewart Had ‘Spooky and Spiritual’ Feelings About Princess Diana While Filming
Kristen Stewart had her naysayers when cast as Princess Diana in Spencer, but after film festival showings and an intriguing trailer, many are changing their tune. Her performance has people saying that she’s a surefire Oscar contender.
This is not the first time Stewart’s channeled public figures on the big screen, as she’s played rocker Joan Jett and actor Jean Seberg. With her turn as royal family favorite Diana Spencer, she had a few special moments with the late royal and definitely felt her presence.
Kristen Stewart had ‘spooky feelings’ while filming ‘Spencer’
It’s not uncommon for actors to have brushes with the supernatural when shooting biopics. Chadwick Boseman once admitted to having an experience with James Brown when filming Get on Up, and Jamie Foxx spoke on Ray Charles’ spirit when he morphed into the late singer for Ray.
During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kristen Stewart she discussed the Anne Boleyn ghostly scene in the film and whether she had a paranormal encounter during Spencer. It’s not what one may think.
“No,” she replied. “But I felt some spooky, spiritual feelings making this movie. Even if I was just fantasizing. I felt like there were moments where I kind of got the sign-off. It’s scary to tell a story about someone who’s not alive anymore and who already felt so invaded. I never wanted to feel like we were invading anything, just that we were kind of adding to the multiplicity of a beautiful thing.”
Stewart felt emotional about Princess Diana’s death
Stewart also shared that sometimes, she had a hard time remembering the late princess was dead. She told the L.A. Times she felt very alive during certain scenes and once she remembered Diana’s death, she would cry “maybe two or three times a week.”
There was something about realizing her impact on the British monarchy, the public, and her family that made Stewart emotional. Becoming Diana Spencer had her teetering between breathing life and exuberance into her memory and reminding herself that she’s dead. But at times, Stewart sensed her presence too.
“It just destroyed me constantly. And that itself felt spiritual … there were times where I was like, ‘Oh, God,’ almost like she was, you know, trying to break through. It was weird. And amazing. I’ve never felt anything like it in my life,” she said.
When does ‘Spencer’ arrive in theaters?
Neon is distributing Spencer, and the film hits theaters on Nov. 5, 2021. It was originally slated for a 2022 release, but the shift may place Stewart in the running for awards season. According to the logline for the film, it takes place 1991 around Christmas. The entire film is a fictional account and covers a three-day period.
The marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days.
Directed by Pablo Larrain, the film also stars Jack Farthing as Prince Charles, Stella Gonet as Queen Elizabeth, and Olga Hellsing as Sarah Ferguson.
