LGBT idol Kristen Stewart talks sexuality, Karl Lagerfeld, indie films and staying true to herself
The former Twilight and Charlie’s Angels star has played gender-fluid characters during her own journey of self-discovery, and is happy to be able to defend and tell those stories as a director
Despite everything she’s already achieved, American actress and director Kristen Stewart turns just 30 years old on April 9. Here she talks to us about her love for indie films, her sexuality, her time as Karl Lagerfeld’s muse, and how she stays true to herself.
Despite having appeared in blockbusters Underwater and Charlie’s Angels, she supports indie projects with as much passion as she does mainstream movies
I’m definitely not the most practical person when it comes to navigating my career thoughtfully. So, even though it seems like I’ve moved towards mainstream movies, we made this movie a few years ago. When I decided to do Underwater, I hadn’t made a big movie in a long time.
She’s also a director. Her short film Come Swim premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, and she’s now planning on directing a feature film, The Chronology of Water, based on the autobiography by the American bisexual swimmer-turned-writer Lidia Yuknavitch
As time goes by, I realise that there are many outstanding stories to be told. I’m always looking for stories and often when I watch a period film, I wonder where the gay characters are because gay people have always existed. But those stories were being very narrowly told and it’s only been lately that we’ve started to tell those stories.
During my own journey of self-discovery, I’ve been able to play gender-fluid characters and I’m happy to be able to defend and tell those stories as a director. I don’t see a big difference between being an actor and a director – the two activities overlap and complement each other.
She’s honest about her sexuality – in 2017 declaring “I’m so gay, dude”, on Saturday Night Live
I’ve felt a responsibility to not be this fake thing who’s only putting out what people want to hear, but at the same time not wanting to leak details about my private life. I was in the situation where hiding the fact that you’re with a girl is different from hiding your being with a particular guy, and that’s why I decided to say it openly.