Kristen Stewarts Princess Diana Biopic Spencer Stuns Venice, Earning Standing Ovation

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana? You better believe it.

Judging by the rapturous response at the premiere of “Spencer” at the Venice Film Festival on Friday afternoon, the 31-year-old actor has pulled off one of the most dazzling onscreen transformations of the year.

As the closing credits of the dramatic film, which bills itself as a “fable” based on true events, the Venice crowd hooted and cheered, showering Stewart with a three-minute standing ovation.

Stewart looked teary-eyed, as she hugged director Pablo Larraín (who also 2016’s directed “Jackie,” starring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis following the assassination of JFK).

Kristen Stewart, fighting back tears, receives a rapturous standing ovation for her performances as Princess Diana in #SpencerMovie at #Venezia78. pic.twitter.com/UM42rw5PqM

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) September 3, 2021

In “Spencer,” Stewart plays Diana over the course of three days during a bruising Christmas holiday at the Sandringham Estate with the Royal family.

The fall awards movie is sure to be the subject of countless think pieces and controversies, as it shows Diana teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown. In the film, the Princess of Wales repeatedly throws up as she grapples with bulimia, talks about cutting herself and, in one particularly funny scene, tells her dresser to give her privacy so she can masturbate.

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More so than showing her interactions with the Royal family — the Queen is almost invisible — the film focuses on Diana’s role as a doting mother to William (Jack Nielen) and Harry (Freddie Spry). She brings them Christmas presents, frets that they are too cold at night due to a lack of heating on the property, sneaks them out of bed for a game and even takes them to the drive-through of a KFC for a real meal.

While Stewart’s performance is sure to draw comparisons to Emma Corrin’s portrait of Diana in “The Crown,” it also shares quite a bit in common with Helen Mirren’s turn as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen.” Mirren won the Academy Award for that film in 2007.

There’s already loud buzz in Venice that the role will likely land Stewart her first Oscar nomination.

“Spencer,” which will be distributed by Neon in the United States, opens in theaters on Nov. 5.

First look at Kristen Stewart’s dress at the premiere of #SpencerMovie. #Venezia78 pic.twitter.com/ta4XgElsUX

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) September 3, 2021

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