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  1. Home
  2. Royals

Diana Diaries: Every time a celebrity has portrayed Princess Diana

Brace yourself, there's been quite a few. - by Catie Powers
  • 28 Jan 2021

Earlier today an image of the latest celebrity to take a turn at portraying Princess Diana was released and, it’s safe to say, fans were stunned at the transformation.

WATCH: The Crown's Emma Corrin shows incredible BTS footage from Princess Diana's wedding dress scenes

In the new biopic Spencer based on three pivotal days in Diana's life, actress Kristen Stewart – yes, the star from Twilight – is set to play the People’s Princess.

Spencer focuses on a weekend away at the Royal Family’s Sandringham Estate around 1992 when Princess Diana realises her marriage to Charles is over.

This week, British Vogue's Instagram released a first look at the actress all dolled up in Diana’s signature hair and clothes and royal fans were absolutely beside themselves at the eerie similarities.

“What!!!” one user commented, “Had no idea this was Kristen Stewart.”

“She looks so much like her in this!” another chimed in.

But Kristen is just the latest addition to an entire throng of actresses who have played Lady Di on film, TV or even the stage. And we’ve broken them all down for you. Starting from the 1980s and working all the way up to Kristen herself.

Who do you think was the most convincing Diana? 

Caroline Bliss

It was her first role!

Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story via ABC

Caroline Bliss | Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story | ABC | 1982

Known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise, British-born Caroline Bliss’ first role was actually a royal one.

That’s right, Bliss stepped into the Hollywood scene through her portrayal of Lady Diana in the 1982 TV movie Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story.

As the name suggests, the film focused on Charles and Diana’s picture-perfect romance – you know, before all the cheating – and depicted their famous 1981 wedding.

Nicola Formby

She stunned as a Windsor woman.

The Women of Windsor via CBS

Nicola Formby | The Women of Windsor | CBS | 1992

Ten years after Bliss wrapped-up her breakout role, actress Nicola Formby accepted her crown as she portrayed Di in the 1992 TV Movie The Women of Windsor.

This adaptation focused on the lives of two princesses who married into the royal family. Princess Diana, of course, who married Charles, and also Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson who married the now disgraced Prince Andrew.

Serena Scott Thomas

It's as close to an accurate depiction as we may ever get.

Diana: Her True Story via NBC

Serena Scott Thomas | Diana: Her True Story | NBC | 1993 

Diana once gave self-recorded tapes to royal biographer Andrew Morton. The author then used these tapes to write the explosive tell-all book titled Diana: Her True Story.

English-born actress Serena Scott Thomas scooped up the role of Di in the film adaptation of that monumental novel.

And, considering the book was helped written by the princess herself, it’s about as close to an accurate depiction of the royal’s life as we may ever get.

Julie Cox

Julie Cox portrayed Diana in the years leading up to her and Charles' divorce.

Getty

Julie Cox | Princess in Love | CBS | 1996

Ahh 1996. The year that Pokemon was launched worldwide, Oprah started her bookclub and, oh yeah, it was the year that Diana and Charles finally called it quits and finalised their divorce.

The movie, Princess in Love, told the story of one of the events leading up to the separation - Diana’s affair with British Army officer James Hewitt.

But this wasn’t a revelation, the affair had already been made public in Diana: Her True Story and in the royal’s famous, and controversial, Panorama interview.

English-born Julie Cox was the actress to play Di this time around.

Amy Seccombe

She starred in the first Diana depiction since her death.

Getty

Amy Seccombe | Diana: A Tribute to The People’s Princess | 1998

The first Diana adaptation to hit screens after the princess and her partner Dodi Fayed were involved in a fatal car accident aired a year after her death.  

Actress Amy Seccombe was the one to portray Diana in this tribute which focused on the final year of the royal’s life – including her romance with Dodi.

Genevieve Oreielly

She depicted Diana's final days.

Diana: Last Days of a Princess via TLC

Genevieve O’Reilly | Diana: Last Days of a Princess | TLC | 2007

As we hit the 2000s, the Diana obsession only grew as more and more movies featuring the People’s Princess continued to hit our screens.

In 2007, the documentary-style Diana: Last Days of a Princess depicted Diana’s final days and included real footage – with a bit of added drama of course.

Irish-Australian – yes, one of our own – actress Genevieve O’Reilly scored this coveted gig.

Lesley Harcourt

Her appearance was short but sweet.

William & Catherine: A Royal Romance via Hallmark

Lesley Harcourt | William & Catherine: A Royal Romance | Hallmark | 2011

While this Hallmark film centred around the romance between Diana’s son William and his wife Kate Middleton, Princess Diana still made an appearance, albeit brief, in the film.

Played by Scottish actress Lesley Harcourt, her version of Diana hit our screens in 2011, right after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got hitched.

Naomi Watts

We all remember Naomi's performance!

Getty

Naomi Watts | Diana | 2013

Who could forget the iconic Naomi Watts in the 2013 film Diana?

The British-born, but Australian-at-heart, actress portrayed the princess as she navigated her relationships with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan, who has just recently come out and slammed Diana’s 1996 BBC interview, as well Dodi Fayed.

Bonnie Soper

She's been in two royal flicks as Diana.

Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance via Lifetime

Bonnie Soper | Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance | 2018 | Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal | 2019

This Kiwi actress appeared in not one but two royal family flicks as Diana. Though, both centred around the ever-controversial Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Romance.

And while different actors took the crown – so to speak – when it came to portraying the rogue royals – Bonnie Soper kept her role as Diana for both films.

Jeanna de Waal

Diana: the musical? Yes please!

Instagram

Jeanna de Waal | Diana | 2019 |

From the screen to the stage. Diana the Musical had just begun, with Bavarian-born Jeanna de Waal as the leading lady, when the pandemic-that-must-not-be-named hit and ruined everything, as usual.

But fear not, the show is on its way back to broadway AND to Netflix this year! What a royal relief!

Emma Corrin

She played a young Lady Di in the latest season of The Crown.

Instagram

Emma Corrin | The Crown | NETFLIX | 2020

If you have a Netflix account, chances are you will have seen the words The Crown in the "what’s trending" part of the streaming service at some point last year.

The TV show which focuses on the British royals (since Elizabeth became Queen) has become an absolute hit worldwide.

British-born actress Emma Corrin was casted as Diana in the latest, fourth, season of the TV show and depicted the Lady’s early days when she was just 19 years old.

Elizabeth Debicki

And Elizabeth will be taking Emma's crown to play Diana in the final seasons of the Netflix show.

Instagram

Elizabeth Debicki | The Crown | NETFLIX | Date unconfirmed

But Emma’s reign as Diana will soon be up as Parisian by birth, and Melburnian-by-heart, actress Elizabeth Debicki is preparing to portray the princess in the final two seasons of The Crown.

And that brings us back to...

Kristen Stewart

Kristen is set to star as Di in the 2021 film, Spencer.

Instagram

Kristen Stewart | Spencer | 2021 |

American-actress Kristen Stewart is playing Di in the upcoming film Spencer, which is serving as a deep-dive into the princess’ life as a way to restore some public favour that may have been lost over the years.

Almost 25 years after her shocking death, the Princess Diana adaptations continue to hit our screens and resonate with viewers everywhere.

  • Royals
  • Princess Diana
Catie Powers

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Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Kate Middleton's new royal title is an ode to Diana

Kate Middleton's new royal title is an ode to Diana

The royal family's most shocking bombshell interviews

The royal family's most shocking bombshell interviews

EXPOSED: Princess Diana's long lost Aussie love

EXPOSED: Princess Diana's long lost Aussie love

How Meghan Markle's baby will honour Diana

How Meghan Markle's baby will honour Diana

{headline}

{headline}

Princess Diana’s hope for a “modern Crown” crushed by Prince Harry

Princess Diana’s hope for a “modern Crown” crushed by Prince Harry

Prince Charles SLAMS new Diana movie

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Royal reveal: Harry to write tell all about Diana!

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{headline}

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How to dress like Princess Diana

How to dress like Princess Diana

Princess Diana's trainer reveals her fitness routine

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Prince Andrew: ‘He was more popular than Diana’

Prince Andrew: ‘He was more popular than Diana’

Princess Diana's "crazy" breakfast order REVEALED

Princess Diana's "crazy" breakfast order REVEALED

The problem with Princess Diana's Panorama interview

The problem with Princess Diana's Panorama interview

Diana's ex-partner SLAMS princess' "manipulative" BBC interview

Diana's ex-partner SLAMS princess' "manipulative" BBC interview

Diana's shocking nickname for Camilla EXPOSED

Diana's shocking nickname for Camilla EXPOSED

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