March 26, 2021
New Photo from Princess Diana Biopic Features Replica of Royal Engagement Ring
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 3 MIN.
A newly-released photo of Kristen Stewart in the role of Princess Diana shows the star sporting a replica of Diana's engagement ring, People magazine reports
"The shot shows Stewart looking straight into the camera with her head resting on her hand, which is adorned with a replica of Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond engagement ring," People details.
"Diana's oldest son Prince William later proposed to Kate Middleton with the famous ring, which Kate still wears."
The film, titled "Spencer," is currently in production and has been filming in Germany. Production is now relocating to the UK, People reporter.
In addition to Stewart, the movie's cast includes Jack Farthing ("Poldark"), who is set to portray "Prince Charles, who was married to Diana for 15 years, from 1981 to 1996," EW reported.
"Other cast members include Timothy Spall ('Mr. Turner'), Sean Harris ('Mission: Impossible – Fallout'), and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins ('The Shape of Water')," EW went on to note.
The new photo follows a late January first look image that shows Stewart in a red jacket and black hat, looking startlingly like the beloved royal, who was killed in 1997 in a car crash in France.
CNN pronounced the similarity to be "uncanny" in a video segment that offered a side-by-side comparison of the film's subject and its star.
Variety reported on the biopic's storyline, taking note of the script's high-caliber provenance: "Written by 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight, the film focuses on one weekend in the life of Princess Diana, as she spends the Christmas holiday with the Royal Family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, and decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles."
Director Pablo Larraín explained to IndieWire how Stewart's casting is a perfect fit for the picture, which is currently shooting in Germany.
"To do this well, you need something very important in film, which is mystery," Larraín said. "Kristen can be many things, and she can be very mysterious and very fragile an ultimately very strong as well, which is what we need."
Stewart thrilled audiences at home recently with her starring role in Hulu's LGBTQ-themed holiday movie "Happiest Season," which she called "a gay Christmas movie." In that film, Stewart plays Abby opposite MacKenzie Davis' character, Harper. When the two visit Harper's conservative family for the holidays, tensions rise due to Harper never having come out to her family.
Commenting on the Princess Diana film and her role, Stewart reflected, " 'Spencer' is a dive inside an emotional imagining of who Diana was at a pivotal turning point in her life."
Stewart went on to add: "It is a physical assertion of the sum of her parts, which starts with her given name: Spencer. It is a harrowing effort for her to return to herself, as Diana strives to hold onto what the name Spencer means to her."
"Spencer" is slated to open theatrically in the fall.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.