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Kristen Stewart is the latest cover star for Entertainment Weekly, and the 31-year-old actress opened up about how honored she feels to play one of the most adored figures in human history. Abaca Press

Kristen Stewart 'would have felt like such a coward' if she turned down Princess Diana role in 'Spencer'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 10/5/21

Spencer hits theaters Nov. 5, but Kristen Stewart is already the center of awards buzz for her stunning portrayal of Princess Diana in the Pablo Larrain-directed biographical drama.

Stewart is the latest cover star for Entertainment Weekly, and the 31-year-old actress opened up about how honored she feels to play one of the most adored figures in human history.

"I knew even before I read the script," Stewart told writer Leah Greenblatt. "I was like, 'You're not going to say no to this, because who would you be in that case?' I absolutely would have felt like such a coward. Especially given that I'm such an outsider. I'm not from the U.K., I don't have any particular investment in the royal family. So I was kind of this really clean slate, and then could absorb her in a way that actually felt very instinctive, you know?"

The Reign Maker: Kristen Stewart becomes Princess Diana in the daring new drama #SPENCER, and her sensational performance may just crown her queen of this awards season. https://t.co/3f7F6pEXtq Story by @Leahbats pic.twitter.com/cJeCqSeQ6s
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) October 5, 2021

Kristen Stewart shares the “defining” Princess Diana trait that helped her make her upcoming movie, #Spencer. pic.twitter.com/YPKuJvODfz
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) October 5, 2021

The official synopsis of Spencer reads: "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."
The official teaser trailer arrived Aug. 26:

Princess Diana (born Diana Frances Spencer) and Prince Charles divorced in 1996 after welcoming two sons, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Diana died in a car crash instigated by relentless paparazzi in August 1997. She was just 36 years old.

Before Spencer's premiere and subsequent standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival in early September, Stewart discussed what drew her to Diana, per The Hollywood Reporter:

"There are some people that are endowed with undeniable energy. But as well as being so normal and disarming, she also felt so isolated and so lonely. She needed everyone else to feel accompanied and bolstered by this beautiful light, and all she wanted was to have it back. ... She wore her heart on her sleeve—to me that was the coolest thing she did.
[...]

"When you know when the story on the street is just wrong and there’s nowhere to correct it. But that was what life was like for her, and at some point you’re going to bare your teeth, because we’re animals and it’s natural. I think everyone feels like they knew here, which is what’s beautiful about her—you think you’re friends with her—but ironically she was the most unknown person."

Spencer also stars Timothy Spall (Harry Potter, Secrets & Lies), Jack Farthing, Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry, Richard Sammel, Stella Gonet, and more.

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