Finding the Miracle Moment
To make their scenes convincingly relaxed and intimate, Kristen
Stewart explored her maternal side while the boys playing her sons bonded with her — and with each other
His instincts were perfect.
“I liked her straightaway,” says Spry. “She was so fun and we played games. Once we went for a walk in the snow and we were playing and she slipped and got mud literally all over her body. She was so cool about it. We laughed so much.”
Nielen, too, lights up when talking about his time with Stewart: “She is the coolest person I know. She is also super kind, friendly and always very generous with her time, always there to chat and have a laugh. She made everything seem so easy and always treated me seriously — I really liked that.”
Larraín wasn’t just putting the trio at ease. Those hours were a way to guide Stewart to Diana’s determination to be a good mother and protect her children.
“You see pictures of her looking like a lioness protecting those kids,” observes Stewart.
So complete was their bonding that when it came time to shoot the “soldier game,” where Diana, William and Harry share secrets, Larraín turned them loose to improvise. “He just wanted it to be as natural as possible, so told us just to go for it,” says Spry. “Kristen always had jokes or something cool to tell us that totally relaxed my mind and made me feel like I could be Harry in the scene.”
“
[Kristen Stewart] is the coolest person I know. She is also super kind, friendly and always very generous with her time, always there to chat and have a laugh. She made everything seem so easy
”
— Jack Nielen
Nielen concurs: “Everyone was completely wrapped up in the moment — it felt very real.”
When shooting wrapped and the company scattered, Spry says, “although I was so excited to go home and see my family, I was actually really sad. I loved driving around the country lanes singing at the top of my voice in the open-top sports car on the back of a lorry. I don’t think I will forget that ever.” ✤
by: Jordaan Sanford
For the young actors playing Princes William and Harry — 12-year-old Jack Nielen and 10-year-old Freddie Spry — shooting “Spencer” was thrilling. Huge elaborate set; lots of high-tech gear; friendly actors; and welcoming crew. A great adventure.
But Kristen Stewart, who would be their biggest scene partner, admits, “I was intimidated by the kids.”
Growing up as the youngest child, and having been a working actor from an early age, she explains, “I’ve just never functioned around anyone younger than me, ever.”
Director Pablo Larraín, who is a father, encouraged the three to spend time together, anticipating that the former child actor Stewart would bond with the boys following in her footsteps.
