From Hollywood to Cannes, actor Kristen Stewart has worked hard to put distance between her Twilight fame and the more serious dramatic projects she has been embracing since the vampire-romance franchise ended.
Stewart, 24, who became a fan favourite among young adults in the Twilight films, has turned to darker fare such as this year’s Sundance film Camp X-Ray, where she plays a prison guard at Guantanamo Bay.
In her latest movie Clouds of Sils Maria, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Stewart plays the personal assistant of an aging actor dealing with the challenges of the film industry’s reaction to her getting older. The film also stars Juliette Binoche and Chloe Grace Moretz.
In an interview, the actor opened up about her views on the fame game and dealing with perceptions.
What drew you to Clouds of Sils Maria?
It happened to be the perfect project, timing wise. Just my experience with my career, how it’s gone — Twilight blew up — I’m extremely famous. It’s interesting for me to play an actor’s assistant who then comments on that world, how it works and how superficial it can be.
Was working with a European writer-director on this film different from working in the United States? Is there a freedom that comes from working in Europe that you might not get in Hollywood?
It’s not absent in the States, but it’s not prevalent to feel free within the film industry, to feel like you can say what you want to say, not with any concern about how people are going to react to it. So here, it seems like people are less afraid because again, they’re doing it for themselves. It’s for the art of it and it’s not to market things.
Do you feel the pressure of needing to stay on top of the game?
I want to make movies one day; I want to direct movies. And I directed a music video (for indie band Sage + The Saints). It’s dinky and fun and I’m so happy to do it, but it’s going to be a big deal, no matter what. Even if I shoot it on a Polaroid camera, people will be like, “What did she do? Let’s take a look.” That’s not something to complain about. It’s incredible that I can do that. It’s just kind of weird, it’s different.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2014.
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