Today marks what would have been the 60th birthday of Princess Diana, whose legacy has left a huge impact on the British monarchy. And in honor of this special milestone, we're taking a look at all the actresses who brought the iconic royal to life on screen. From Emma Corrin to Kristen Stewart, we've seen several talented stars step up to don Diana's shoes—and it looks like another actress is joining this list for the final two seasons of The Crown. Read on to see all nine stars who have (or will) portray Princes Diana on the big (and small) screen.
9 Actresses Who Have Played Princess Diana on Screen
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Published Jul 1, 2021
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1. Kristen Stewart, ‘spencer’
This exciting casting has Stewart playing Princess Diana during the three days when she realized that her relationship with Prince Charles was over. (Fun fact: The director, Pablo Larraín, is the same person who directed Natalie Portman in the Academy Award-nominated biopic, Jackie.)
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2. Julie Cox, ‘princess In Love’
Anna Pasternak spilled the royal tea about Princess Diana’s alleged affair with Captain James Hewitt in her biography, which was also called Princess in Love. This TV movie—which came out in 1996—brought the book to life.
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3. Caroline Bliss, ‘charles And Diana: A Royal Love Story’
Relive the dramatized version of the royal wedding of the century: The 1981 nuptials of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. (This film came out in 1982.)
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4. Serena Scott Thomas, ‘diana: Her True Story’
Based on Andrew Morton’s bestselling biography of the same name, this 1993 film follows Diana as she goes from young schoolteacher to fairy tale princess, battling everything from a bad marriage to bulimia along the way.
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5. Emma Corrin, ‘the Crown’
A royal performance we’ve waited for with baited breath to see: For the fourth season of The Crown, Princess Diana’s relationship with Prince Charles takes center stage.
eOne
6. Naomi Watts, ‘diana’
This 2013 biopic tells the story of Princess Diana’s secret relationship with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan, which took place during the last two years of her life. (Watts also shared that Princess Diana kept appearing in her dreams during filming, which made her feel like “permission was granted” for her to take on the role.)
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7. Lesley Harcourt, ‘william & Catherine: A Royal Love Story’
She may only make a brief cameo in this 2011 Hallmark re-telling of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s romance, but it’s a memorable one.
TLC
8. Genevieve O’reilly, ‘diana: Last Days Of A Princess’
This TLC documentary, released on the 10-year-anniversary of her death in 2007, reenacts the days leading up to Princess Diana’s fatal car crash in the Pont d’Alma Tunnel in Paris.
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9. Elizabeth Debicki, ‘the Crown’
In April of 2020, it was confirmed that The Great Gatsby star would be taking over after Corrin in Netflix's The Crown. Per BBC, Debicki said in a statement, "Princess Diana's spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one."
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