- How strange was it to swear as Diana?
Naomi Watts: She is a human being, and I wanted to make her as real and as full of contradictions and surprises as possible. It would be silly if we didn’t take liberties or use information that we had gathered that felt real and rang true.
We wanted to create a full and rounded character that was not just one colour. I think that she really fought to have as much normalcy in her life as possible; even going out for her jogs.
Stephen Jeffries: She as very fond of telling rude jokes, and things like that.
- Robert can you talk about the enduring hopes that you have for the film?
Robert Bernstein: We obviously thought long and hard before we started to develop the script and approach Stephen.
But when the inquest was finished into Diana’s death and Hasnat Khan went on record, in quite a lot of detail, as to the nature of the relationship and we felt that it had become the past, and we could look at it without prejudice and interpret it as a film.
Everyone has said that this is a universal love story, and it is a heart-breaking one at that. What we were aiming for with the film was a sense of what could have been, as the events of her death and what may or may not have happened surrounding her death has overshadowed the extraordinary achievements of her life - particularly the last few months of her life.
Through this very touching love affair, she was able to develop herself and fulfil herself by becoming a humanitarian on the world stage. We were very keen that this should be looked at again, and that she should be re-assessed in this light. It was through this relationship that we felt would be the most powerful way to do that.
Our aspirations for the film are that people look at it and judge it as a film, without any preconceptions on the background. It is important to look at her in a new way and, as Naveen and Naomi have said, in a human way.
I don’t want to coin Tony Blair’s phrase but the ‘People’s Princess’ did evoke the sense that she had the common touch and a connection with humanity around the world. The other interesting point was that she desperately tried to have a normal personal life.
Now with Prince William marrying a girl that is not from royalty, it’s clear that he wants to have a strong level of normalcy; that too is an enduring legacy. I think that we should celebrate that.
- What were the most difficult scenes for the pair of you to film?
Naveen Andrews: Forget about the scenes, I had to put on seventeen pounds; that is very difficult for me. I found it hard to put on that weight, and then lose it.
The challenge generally - which was also an attraction to do this part - was that this is a character that doesn’t seem to be encumbered by 20th century neurosis; there is something very old-fashioned about this man. To be able to fill that - being me - was not easy. It was no easy to have that relaxation.
Naomi Watts: When you play real-life characters, there is always an extra sense of pressure because of responsibility to tell the story in the most truthful and accurate way. With Princess Diana, there is no one as well known as her to date, she is so well documented.
I found it incredibly difficult in the preparation as well, because when you are creating a character, you start from the inside. You create the interior life and then work out; so the way that they look and speak comes last. Of course, I had to work in the opposite direction for this, and that took a lot of preparation and study.
If you want to isolate it to a scene then the Bashir interview was the most difficult and challenging. I did want to be quite precise about that; not just what she said but how she said it and where she took breathes and where she touched her face.
I know how much everyone remembers that interview, and I wanted to be as exact as possible. For the rest of it, such as inside Kensington Palace, liberties had to be taken and poetic license - actors have to bring nuance to it.
Because it wasn’t a documentary, I think that it was ok to do that - as long as we are not being ridiculous and exploiting anything.
- Do you have a favourite scene in the film?
Naveen Andrews: I hate watching anything that I am in. However, my favourite scene is when they meet in the palace for the first time and have dinner. It was a joy to actually do it, and that is rare.
Stephen Jeffries: It was a fun scene to write as well because it is a gift that this guy, who has a crummy car, is going to turn up at the palace. The fact that Diana was not a brilliant cook either, and they are both trying to put on a different image to each other.
Naveen Andrews: It is just the play between them.
Stephen Jeffries: Yes it is. And the fact that they end up watching television, which is a great first date.
- What were your views of Diana?
Oliver Hirschbiegel: The whole world is still fascinated by her because she had something that nobody, or hardly anyone before her, had - has anybody followed in her footsteps? No. She is an icon like the old-fashioned movie stars from the thirties, and the forties were as they had something that made them shine and be above all the others.
At the same time, she was a very spiritual person. So you have someone who is in the limelight, strives for the limelight and needs it but, on the other hand, is pure, grounded and spiritual.
All that in one person created a certain energy - maybe Gandhi had that. She was just a complex and exceptional character.She did not bull shit - people hate bullshit - but she was just straight and honest and tried to do good. People just seemed to get that.
- Diana fought to create normalcy, but she did have this very complicated relationship with the media and with fame - even using the media sometimes. I wondered if you could characterise her relationship with the media?
Naomi Watts: I cannot imagine having to life with that level scrutiny and that constant focus; I don’t know who could cope on a daily level with that.
I can absolutely identify with the need to want to control that when it has so much power over you. I have had tastes of it, and the frustrations and interference of people following you or obstructing you or being misquoted or misrepresented by the press. It is irritating, upsetting and hurtful.
So I can absolutely understand that at times, she did want to exert control; there were many times that worked for her and many times that is backfired.
Stephen Jeffries: One of the keys to her life was trying to gain control of things generally. With the press, it was different because, at times, it was very successful and then when things got out of hand it was doubly bad for her.
Not only did she have to put up with the harassment, but she was also losing control and trying to re-establish control; she certainly had a love/hate relationship with the media. She needed it as well; it became something as a drug for her, I think.
- Naomi I was wondering how your life compares to that of Diana?
Naomi Watts: It is nothing near. I can’t really name... she is a unique character, and I can’t think of anyone else who has that level of fame. Even so, many years after her death she still consumes front pages in newspapers. Like I said, I have had a tiny glimpse.
The heart-breaking think to imagine is when you are under constant scrutiny what that can do to you. I am sure there was a love/hate relationship. But that feeling of being trapped and consequently creating isolation or paranoia, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I am sure that was a very hard world to exist within.
Diana is released 20th September.
Tagged in Naomi Watts