Every Actor Who Has Played Princess Diana From Naomi Watts to Kristen Stewart

Princess Diana is one of the most fascinating members of the royal family to have ever lived. Even though she died in 1997, the love that people have for her has never dissolved, and to this day, people love learning about her and honoring her memory. Hollywood has capitalized on the public’s interest in Diana, and over the years, the late royal has been featured in many movies and television specials. 

Michelle Duncan played Princess Diana in 2005

Recently, US Weekly did a rundown of the various times that Diana has been portrayed onscreen. One of the more memorable performances was in 2005 when actor Michelle Duncan played Diana in the TV movie Whatever Love Means. The film focused primarily on the longtime love affair between Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, but Duncan still managed to make an impression as the late Princess of Wales. 

Julie Cox and Serena Scott Thomas both played Princess Diana in TV movies

In the ’90s, two TV movies were released that both featured different takes on the story of Diana.  The 1996 film Princess in Love told the story of Diana’s love affair with Captain James Hewitt, with Broadchurch actor Julie Cox taking on the role of Diana. A few years prior, Serena Scott Thomas had played Diana in the highly-anticipated TV movie Diana: Her True Story.  

Amy Seccombe portrayed the late royal in 1998

1998 saw another TV movie about Diana, this one detailing the public’s affection for the beleaguered royal and released in Britain. Amy Seccombe, an actor known for her work in Death Machine and Operation Good Guys, played the princess in the film, called Diana: A Tribute to the People’s Princess. 

Genevieve O’Reilly has played multiple royals

Irish-born actor Genevieve O’Reilly played Diana in the 2007 TV movie, Diana: Last Days of a Princess. Interestingly enough, that wasn’t the only time that O’Reilly would step into the shoes of a member of the royal family — she would go on to portray Lady Flora Hastings in the 2009 movie The Young Victoria. 

Catherine Oxenberg acted as Princess Diana twice

Catherine Oxenberg, an actor with royal connections of her own, played Diana on two separate occasions. The first time, she appeared as the princess in the 1982 TV movie The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana, and then, 10 years later, she reprised the role in the 1992 film Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After. 

When did Naomi Watts play Princess Diana?

Acclaimed Hollywood actor Naomi Watts stepped into the shoes of the late royal in 2013, when she played Diana in Diana: Her Last Love. The movie explored Diana’s relationship with Hasnat Khan, with whom she had a brief romance before she met Dodi Fayed, her boyfriend at the time of her death. 

Emma Corrin received praise for her work as Princess Diana on ‘The Crown’

When the fourth season of The Crown debuted on Netflix in late 2020, viewers everywhere couldn’t stop talking about Emma Corrin’s performance as Diana. The young actor not only looked remarkably similar to the late royal, but she was effortlessly able to capture Diana’s mannerisms and expressions. She is not expected to reprise the role in the fifth season of The Crown, however, with actor Elizabeth Debicki set to take on the part. 

Kristen Stewart is the latest actor to play Princess Diana

Set to release in late 2021, Spencer is the latest movie to tell Diana’s story. This time, Kristen Stewart will be playing the royal.

The movie will take place in 1991, during the tumultuous period of time when Diana decides to separate from Charles for good. Stewart, who is best known for her work in movies like Twilight, is already receiving a lot of buzz for her work — and when the film is released, it will undoubtedly generate a lot of renewed interest in Diana’s fascinating life.