Elizabeth Debicki, Kristen Stewart and Naomi Watts.Photo:Netflix; Pablo Larrain/Neon/THA/Shutterstock; Ecosse/Kobal/Shutterstock
Netflix; Pablo Larrain/Neon/THA/Shutterstock; Ecosse/Kobal/Shutterstock
Over the years, several talented women have stepped intoPrincess Diana’s shoes to tell her story.
Most recently,Elizabeth Debickiplays the beloved figure in seasons 5 and 6 ofThe Crown, a role she inherited fromEmma Corrina season earlier. As the hit series airs its final installment, see all of the stars who have taken on the role of Princess Diana.
01of 12Elizabeth Debicki inThe Crown(2022-2023)Elizabeth Debicki in ‘The Crown’.Des Willie/NetflixDebicki made her debut as the late princess on season 5 ofThe Crown, which followed the dissolution of Diana’s marriage to then-Prince Charles. In the sixth and final season of the series, Debicki — whose credits include roles inThe Night Managerand Christopher Nolan’sTenet— portrays Diana in the final years of her life, leading up to her tragic death in 1997.Speaking to PEOPLE atThe Crown’sseason 6 premiere, Debicki shared that she “learned a lot” playing the royal.“I don’t think you come anywhere near sort of learning as much as I learned about this character and not feel that the only thing worth doing in life is putting love into the world,” Debicki said at the event in Los Angeles.
01of 12
Elizabeth Debicki inThe Crown(2022-2023)
Elizabeth Debicki in ‘The Crown’.Des Willie/Netflix
Des Willie/Netflix
Debicki made her debut as the late princess on season 5 ofThe Crown, which followed the dissolution of Diana’s marriage to then-Prince Charles. In the sixth and final season of the series, Debicki — whose credits include roles inThe Night Managerand Christopher Nolan’sTenet— portrays Diana in the final years of her life, leading up to her tragic death in 1997.
Speaking to PEOPLE atThe Crown’sseason 6 premiere, Debicki shared that she “learned a lot” playing the royal.
“I don’t think you come anywhere near sort of learning as much as I learned about this character and not feel that the only thing worth doing in life is putting love into the world,” Debicki said at the event in Los Angeles.
02of 12Kristen Stewart inSpencer(2021)Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana inSpencer(2021).Shoebox FilmsHaving played Joan Jett inThe Runawaysand Jean Seberg inSeberg, the actress is no stranger to stepping into the shoes of real-life icons.Pablo Larraín’s biopic takes place over three days in December 1991 as Princess Diana spends Christmas atQueen Elizabeth’s Sandringham estate and realizes she needs to end her marriage toPrince Charles. U.K. culture professor Pauline Maclaran tells PEOPLE that theTwilightstar’s turn is “very likely to be a favorable portrayal for a younger audience.”
02of 12
Kristen Stewart inSpencer(2021)
Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana inSpencer(2021).Shoebox Films
Having played Joan Jett inThe Runawaysand Jean Seberg inSeberg, the actress is no stranger to stepping into the shoes of real-life icons.
Pablo Larraín’s biopic takes place over three days in December 1991 as Princess Diana spends Christmas atQueen Elizabeth’s Sandringham estate and realizes she needs to end her marriage toPrince Charles. U.K. culture professor Pauline Maclaran tells PEOPLE that theTwilightstar’s turn is “very likely to be a favorable portrayal for a younger audience.”
03of 12
Emma Corrin inThe Crown(2020)
Emma Corrin in The Crown.SplashNews.com
04of 12Jeanna de Waal inDiana: The Musical(2020)Jeanna de Waal as Princess Diana.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman/Murphy MadeThe London-born actress began previews on Broadway in March 2020 before global lockdowns sent Broadway into an indefinite hiatus. But the show announced its return in August 2021, teasing that it would tell “The story you only thought you knew.“Set in 1981, the musical follows de Waal’s Diana as she prepares to marry into the royal family, then explores the aftermath of that marriage, including Diana’s complicated relationship with the press andPrince Charles’s highly publicized affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles (later titled the Duchess of Cornwall through her marriage to the Prince of Wales).
04of 12
Jeanna de Waal inDiana: The Musical(2020)
Jeanna de Waal as Princess Diana.Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman/Murphy Made
The London-born actress began previews on Broadway in March 2020 before global lockdowns sent Broadway into an indefinite hiatus. But the show announced its return in August 2021, teasing that it would tell “The story you only thought you knew.”
Set in 1981, the musical follows de Waal’s Diana as she prepares to marry into the royal family, then explores the aftermath of that marriage, including Diana’s complicated relationship with the press andPrince Charles’s highly publicized affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles (later titled the Duchess of Cornwall through her marriage to the Prince of Wales).
05of 12Naomi Watts inDiana(2013)SplashThe Australian actress’s turn as the beloved royal was less than adored. In fact, Maclaran tells PEOPLE, “It was widely panned.“Watts had put in the work — training with a dialogue coach for six weeks, watching interviews repeatedly and physically transforming with the help of wigs and prosthetics — and she evenclaimedDiana had visited her in a dream to give her permission, but “her portrayal was seen as fairly wooden,” says Maclaran.
05of 12
Naomi Watts inDiana(2013)
Splash
The Australian actress’s turn as the beloved royal was less than adored. In fact, Maclaran tells PEOPLE, “It was widely panned.”
Watts had put in the work — training with a dialogue coach for six weeks, watching interviews repeatedly and physically transforming with the help of wigs and prosthetics — and she evenclaimedDiana had visited her in a dream to give her permission, but “her portrayal was seen as fairly wooden,” says Maclaran.
06of 12Lesley Harcourt inWilliam & Catherine, A Royal Love Story(2011)HallmarkHarcourt donned a wig to channel Diana in the opening scene of this 2011 Hallmark movie. From there… Princess Diana figured very little into the love story of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — but royal watchers who tuned in hoping to see the Queen andKate Middletonplaying Wii Tennis were in luck!
06of 12
Lesley Harcourt inWilliam & Catherine, A Royal Love Story(2011)
Hallmark
Harcourt donned a wig to channel Diana in the opening scene of this 2011 Hallmark movie. From there… Princess Diana figured very little into the love story of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — but royal watchers who tuned in hoping to see the Queen andKate Middletonplaying Wii Tennis were in luck!
07of 12Genevieve O’Reilly inDiana: Last Days of a Princess(2007)TLCO’Reilly played the People’s Princess for this TLC documentary, which reenacted Diana’s interviews and the days leading up to her tragic death in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
07of 12
Genevieve O’Reilly inDiana: Last Days of a Princess(2007)
TLC
O’Reilly played the People’s Princess for this TLC documentary, which reenacted Diana’s interviews and the days leading up to her tragic death in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
08of 12Amy Seccombe inDiana: A Tribute to the People’s Princess(1998)REUTERS / AlamyReleased just one year after Diana’s death, thisTributefollowed the royal through her final months, delving into her romances with Dodi Al Fayed and Hasnat Khan, and highlighting her meetings with landmine victims along with other charitable endeavors.
08of 12
Amy Seccombe inDiana: A Tribute to the People’s Princess(1998)
REUTERS / Alamy
Released just one year after Diana’s death, thisTributefollowed the royal through her final months, delving into her romances with Dodi Al Fayed and Hasnat Khan, and highlighting her meetings with landmine victims along with other charitable endeavors.
09of 12
Julie Cox inPrincess in Love(1996)
CBS/Getty
10of 12
Serena Scott Thomas inDiana: Her True Story(1993)
Kobal/Shutterstock
11of 12
Caroline Bliss inCharles & Diana: A Royal Love Story(1982)
A year after 750 million people around the globe watched Diana’s wedding toPrince Charles,A Royal Love Storydramatized that momentous day. At the time, Diana was still viewed “as the fairy-tale princess, and the early, quite cheesy films reflect that,” says Maclaran.
12of 12
Catherine Oxenberg — Twice!
hrysalis-Yellen Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock; Alamy
The soon-to-beDynastystar — who is actually the second cousin once removed ofPrince Charlesthrough her mother, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia — made her acting debut in 1982’sThe Royal Romanceand reprised the role of Diana 10 years later inCharles& Diana: Unhappily Ever After.
source: people.com
