Five times Kristen Stewart showed us she can act

Kristen Stewart is generating serious Oscar chatter for her performance as Princess Diana in Spencer

The Oscar buzz surrounding Kristen Stewart’s performance in Spencer is deafening. Tipped to snag her first Academy Award nomination for her poignant portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larraín’s latest masterpiece, Stewart paints a painful picture of Diana’s life at a difficult time with her mental health in turmoil as she decides to end her decade-long marriage to Prince Charles.

The film is a fictionalised account of what takes place during three days of the Christmas holidays as the Royal Family convenes at Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. Stewart captivates in every frame and beautifully honours Diana’s charm and poise while also embodying her love, humour and sincerity as a friend and mother.

Although Stewart’s skills are often underrated, before and after catapulting to global superstardom as Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga franchise the actor has demonstrated her range and skill time and time again. So with Spencer generating her some serious awards recognition, we break down five other roles where Stewart absolutely nailed it.

Stewart (right) as Sarah Altman in Panic Room

Panic Room (2002) Our first introduction to Stewart proved she was one to watch. Directed by David Fincher, it follows a divorced woman and her diabetic daughter who take refuge in their newly purchased house's safe room when three men break in searching for a missing fortune. Stewart plays Sarah Altman, the daughter of Jodie Foster’s character. Sharing the screen with a Hollywood icon is no mean feat for one so young (Stewart was just 12 years old) but the young star holds her own with a performance that contributes to a tense and thrilling movie.

Stewart as Tracy Tatro in Into The Wild

Into the Wild (2007) Stewart makes a big impact, despite such minimal screen time, in this tale of self discovery directed by Sean Penn. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless [Emile Hirsch] abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life. Stewart plays Tracy Tatro, a 16-year-old Christopher encounters on his journey who develops feelings for him. Her performance is sweet, but scene stealing, and her charisma oozes, especially when singing with Hirsch. A short stint on screen leaves a lasting impression on Christopher and the audience long after we bid her farewell.

Stewart (left) as Joan Jett in The Runaways

The Runaways (2010) was a big departure from Stewart’s work at the time, breaking from the incredibly popular Bella Swan to sink her teeth into portraying Joan Jett in a coming-of-age biographical film about 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways. The relationship between band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett is also explored, with fellow Twilight alum Dakota Fanning bouncing off Stewart. Demonstrating a solid handle on the toughness of Jett, Stewart flexes her acting chops and cements her stellar vocal abilities in this enjoyable music flick.

As Lydia Howland in Still Alice

Still Alice (2014) saw Stewart play Lydia Howland, the onscreen daughter of yet another Hollywood icon. Julianne Moore is linguistics professor Alice, whose family bonds are tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Stewart’s character deals with a lot in this hard-hitting drama: an unwell mother; struggling to land acting gigs; and surviving as the moody middle child bookended by two straight-A student siblings. Expressing deep vulnerability and supporting Moore’s Oscar-winning performance beautifully, Stewart once again demonstrates her range. 

As Abby (centre) in Happiest Season

Happiest Season (2020) is a delightful Christmas film with an LGBTQ+-centred love story. Stewart portrays Abby in this holiday-set romantic comedy that captures the gamut of emotions tied to wanting your family's acceptance, being true to yourself – and trying not to ruin Christmas. Displaying not only her comedic abilities but genuine likability, Stewart effortlessly offers a heartfelt connection with her co-star and onscreen partner Mackenzie Davis in a film that both inspires and delights.

Experience Kristen Stewart’s magnificent Spencer performance in Australian cinemas January 20, 2022