Australian actress Naomi Watts is understandably nervous about playing one of recent history’s most iconic figures, Princess Diana, but she has drawn reassurance from an encouraging visit from Diana’s ghost.
Watts, who takes on the role in a biopic about the final two years of Diana’s life, says that the Princess gave her permission to play her from beyond the grave.
In an interview with UK’s Mail on Sunday, the actress said she felt very close to Diana while researching and playing the iconic role, and recalls the moment she believes she received approval from the People’s Princess herself.
“I kept wondering to myself ‘would she like it?'” she said.
“So I found myself constantly asking for permission to carry on. I had saturated myself with Diana and her life and I felt this enormous responsibility of playing this iconic women.
“It felt like I was spending a lot of time with her. There was one particular moment when I felt her permission was granted. That won’t sound right in print, I know.”
The actress admits she felt a lot of pressure playing one of the most loved and famous characters of her lifetime, and hesitated to take the role.
“There was a lot of hesitation on my part before I agreed to do it,” she said.
“Obviously I was taking on one of the most famous women of my time, and an awful lot of pressure comes with that.
“You want to get it right, and everybody is going to have an opinion on the film and how she should be portrayed. It’s very daunting.”
The film explores the largely untold story of a love affair between the late Princess of Wales and heart surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan.
Producer Robert Bernstein tells the story of the couple, who had reportedly planned to start a new life together in Australia, in a fair and non-voyeuristic way.
“The way we are treating the relationship is one of a romantic and tender nature, in keeping with how we feel about Diana and her life,” he told the Mail on Sunday.
“It’s a very aspirational, sympathetic portrait and not voyeuristic. Our sense of their relationship was that it was very spiritual and sensitive, as well as difficult obviously. We are handing it very sensitively.”
The leading lady also expressed concern over Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry’s reactions to the film, saying she would “hate to upset them”.
“I hope they feel good about it,” Watts said.
“It’s a piece of history we’re all interested in and at some point the story had to be told.”
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