Kristen Stewart says learning Princess Diana’s accent is ‘intimidating as all hell’

Actor said royal’s story is ‘one of the saddest to exist’

Kristen Stewart and Princess Diana (Getty)

Kristen Stewart has admitted that getting to grips with Princess Diana’s accent for the forthcoming film Spencer is an “intimidating” prospect.

Spencer will centre on a decisive weekend in Diana’s life, during which she questions her marriage to Prince Charles and steps away from life at the palace.

Production on the film is due to begin mid-January and, in the meantime, Stewart has been doing extensive research in order to know the Princess “implicitly”.

She 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.”

The Twilight star added: “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.”

Spencer will be directed by Pablo Larrain (the filmmaker behind the Jackie Kennedy biopic Jackie) and the script has been written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.