Naomi Watts has opened up about her biggest role yet – playing Princess Diana in her new movie Diana.
“It’s a little scary playing one of the most famous women of our time,” Naomi Watts has said of playing the lead role in Diana, the new biopic about the late Princess Of Wales.
“There’s so much information out there – people are inevitably going to make comparisons.”
The movie, now in cinemas, saw Naomi undergo a transformation that included six weeks of dialogue training, four wigs, a prosthetic nose, months of research and fittings for clothes that belonged to Diana herself.
Producer Robert Bernstein says the movie isn’t a typical biopic, but instead concentrates on a crucial part of her short life.
Diana focuses on the compassion and kindness of her final years and her relationship with the inspirational Dr. Hasnat Khan.
“It was really very difficult for her,” Naomi says of Diana’s tortured love life.
“She’s definitely someone who had to fight for happiness, but it’s impressive that she did, and that she kept fighting for it given the circumstances.”
Naomi says she thought long and hard about the role and didn’t immediately agree to being in the film.
“I struggled with the idea for some time, obviously because she is the most famous woman of our time, and with that comes a lot of pressure. Everyone feels they know her so I questioned whether I could ever claim her as being my own character,” she said.
“I like to play women who are complicated and full of contradictions, and Diana was this and more.
“At times she was strong and rebellious: she could also be happy, giggly, flirty, mischievous and incredibly wise. I’m interested in watching those kinds of women on screen. I’m also drawn to these kinds of women in my friendships in life.”
Despite Naomi’s initial doubts, director Oliver Hirschbiegel says there was no one else to play the role.
“I don’t know who else would have been right and who could have pulled it off,” he said.
“Naomi’s an exquisite actress and is outstandingly good. She has the ability to be a chameleon. You know it’s her and at the same time it’s definitely that character and in this case you’re watching Diana. That’s an exceptional gift.”
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