Kristen Stewart transformed into the late Princess Diana as she was spotted on set of the new movie Spencer in Dülmen, Germany earlier this week.
The actress, 30, bore a striking resemblance to the Princess Of Wales as she walked through the grounds of Schloss Marquardt in Potsdam.
Kristen looked worlds away from her usual edgy style as she donned a pale pink plaid coat, which she layered atop of a beige polo neck.
Action: Kristen Stewart transformed into the late Princess Diana as she was spotted on set of the new movie Spencer in Dülmen, Germany earlier this week
The Twilight star sported Diana’s signature blonde bob and teamed the look with black tights and leather boots.
Kristen cut a pensive figure and walked with her hands in her pockets and head down as the cameras rolled.
The actress was surrounded by a whole production team, who wore face masks in keeping with the safety procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Royalty: The actress, 30, bore a striking resemblance to the Princess Of Wales (pictured right in 1991) as she walked through the grounds of Schloss Marquardt in Potsdam
Transformation: Kristen looked worlds away from her usual edgy style as she donned a pale pink plaid coat, which she layered atop of a beige polo neck
Regulations: The actress was surrounded by a whole production team, who wore face masks in keeping with the safety procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic
Iconic: The Twilight star sported Diana’s signature blonde bob and teamed the look with black tights and leather boots. (pictured right the late Princess of Wales in Wandsworth in 1982)
The end of the fairytale: Spencer follows the breakdown of her high-profile, 15-year marriage to Prince Charles
Spencer follows the breakdown of her high-profile, 15-year marriage to Prince Charles and is primarily being filmed at the Schloss Marquardt in Potsdam – a castle which is doubling as Sandringham Estate.
The story is said to take place over three days during one of Diana’s final Christmases at the House of Windsor in their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England in 1991.
The script, written by English screenwriter Steven Knight, who has also written Peaky Blinders, follows the moments Diana realised she ‘needed to veer from a path that put her in line to one day be queen’.
Scenes are being shot in the fireplace room and the upper floor of the grand German castle.
Story-telling: The script, written by English screenwriter Steven Knight, follows the moments Diana realised she ‘needed to veer from a path that put her in line to one day be queen
Princess: In October, the Twilight star admitted she’s nervous about her portrayal, especially the task of mastering the late princess’ accent
Motivated: ‘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,’ Kristen said
Filming under way: Two production vans were pictured in the grounds of the stunning castle
Last month, an accuracy row broke out as royal experts branded the project inaccurate because it’s set on a weekend at Sandringham which never happened.
According to royal biographers Robert Jobson and Ingrid Seward, Diana had stopped visiting the estate before the period in which the drama is set.
Speaking on True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, Robert said: ‘I don’t even think she was there that weekend. She wasn’t even at Sandringham, on this supposed weekend.
‘The film will suggest this is where the decision was made to divorce, but she never made that decision. I didn’t think she was at Sandringham after 1990 and this was set in 1991.’
Plot: Director Pablo Larraín explained that the drama will focus on her relationship with the royal and the love she had for children Prince William and Prince Harry (pictured in 1986)
Ingrid added: ‘The film is based on three days at Sandringham, and the period that it is based on, Diana wasn’t going to Sandringham anymore.
Their comments follows widespread criticism of Netflix drama The Crown, which saw politicians, experts and friends of the Royal Family call for a disclaimer to warn viewers that the show twists the truth.
Friends of close senior royals including Prince Charles even went so far as to accuse it of ‘trolling on a Hollywood budget’.
Director Pablo Larraín explained that the drama will not delve into Diana’s tragic death, but instead focus on her relationship with the royal and the love she had for children Prince William and Prince Harry.
The filmmaker said: ‘We decided to get into a story about identity, and around how a woman decides somehow, not to be the queen…
Venue: Spencer is primarily being filmed at the Schloss Marquardt in Potsdam – a castle which is doubling as Sandringham Estate
Criticism: Last month, an accuracy row broke out as royal experts branding the project inaccurate as it’s set on a weekend at Sandringham (pictured in 2015) which never happened
‘She’s a woman who, in the journey of the movie, decides and realizes that she wants to be the woman she was before she met Charles.’
When the news was first announced, Twitter was swarmed with questions and comments about Kristen’s role.
Pablo quickly defended his decision to cast the American actress in the role, telling Deadline: ‘Kristen is one of the greatest actors around today.
‘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.’
‘The combination of those elements made me think of her. The way she responded to the script and how she is approaching the character, it’s very beautiful to see. I think she’s going to do something stunning and intriguing at the same time.’
Backlash: When the news was first announced, Twitter was swarmed with questions and comments about Kristen’s role (pictured L in 2020, Diana pictured R in 1994)
In October, the Twilight star admitted she’s nervous about her portrayal, especially the task of mastering the late princess’ accent.
The thespian gushed she hasn’t been ‘this excited about playing a part, by the way, in so long.’
Kristen told InStyle: ‘The accent is intimidating as all hell because people know that voice, and it’s so, so distinct and particular. I’m working on it now and already have my dialect coach.
‘In terms of research, I’ve gotten through two and a half biographies, and I’m finishing all the material before I actually go make the movie.
‘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.’
Impressive: A first look at Kristen’s role sees her perfect Diana’s sorrowful stare and trademark head tilt
Actresses that have played Princess Diana
Naomi Watts as Princess Diana in the 2013 movie Diana
Naomi Watts in Diana (2013)
British-Australian actress Naomi Watts famously played the Princess of Wales in the 2013 movie Diana which was derided by critics at the time. ‘Diana might have been flawed and scheming and love-starved, but this film doesn’t help explain that. Nor does it illuminate the common touch and humanitarian side that endeared her to a global audience,’ film critic Suzanne S. Brown wrote. Even Naomi herself would later admit that the film was a ‘sinking ship’.
Emma Corrin in The Crown (2020)
Newcomer Emma Corrin was cast as Princess Diana in the fourth season of The Crown in 2019, and earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of the charming but troubled young princess.
Newcomer: Emma Corrin was cast as Princess Diana in the fourth season of The Crown in 2019
Lesley Harcourt in William & Catherine (2011)
Scottish actress Lesley Harcourt – who has had roles in British crime drama Taggart – played Diana in this cheesy Hallmark movie in 2011. The TV drama was described as ‘superficial fun’ by critics and not taken very seriously.
Genevieve O’Reilly in Diana: Last Days Of A Princess (2007)
This Channel 5 docu-drama starred Irish actress Genevieve O’Reilly, who is perhaps best known for her work in the Star Wars franchise as Mon Mothma. It certainly fared better than other projects, with a review in The New York Times praising it: ‘It portrays her as needy but manipulative, loving but flawed — in other words, as a human being. Blending documentary techniques and scripted drama, it gives a surprisingly credible picture of the princess’s last summer.’
Made-for-TV: Irish actress Genevieve O’Reilly played Diana in 2007’s Diana: Last Days Of A Princess
Serena Scott Thomas in Diana: Her True Story (1993)
Based on the publication of the same name by Andrew Morton, British actress and model Serena Scott Thomas also found some praise for her portrayal in this made-for-TV movie. Entertainment Weekly said Serena showed ‘great charm’ in the role, but said she ‘more closely resembles a softer version of Murphy Brown‘s Faith Ford than she does the angular princess.’ Interestingly, Serena later played Carole Middleton in the 2011 TV movie William & Kate, depicting the courtship between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Amy Seccombe in Diana: A Tribute To The People’s Princess (1998)
This ill-advised Princess Diana tribute was released just a year after her death, and starred little known actress Amy Seccombe for the part. The project was largely ignored upon release and thought to be distasteful. Seccombe’s only other role after the TV movie was playing a medic on the TV show Operation Good Guys.
Cheesy: Amy Seccombe and George Jackos play Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed in the TV movie The People’s Princess
Julie Cox in Princess In Love (1996)
Based on James Hewitt’s book, this American TV movie follows the relationship that blossomed himself between Diana and James Hewitt. The role went to British actress Julie Cox who was recently seen in the crime drama Broadchurch. The title failed to have much impact upon its release.
Caroline Bliss in Charles And Diana: A Royal Love Story (1982)
This 1982 American made-for-television biographical drama starred Catherine Oxenberg as Diana, Christopher Baines as Prince Charles, and Hollywood royalty Olivia de Havilland as Queen Elizabeth. It originally aired September 20, 1982 on CBS. One damning review from The Washington Post called it a piece of ‘slack-jawed heraldic voyeurism incapable of, and apparently uninterested in, transforming remote news figures into believable mortals.’
US versions: (L-R) Caroline Bliss IN Charles And Diana: A Royal Love Story (1982), AND Julie Cox in Princess In Love (1996)