Playing Diana, Princess of Wales has landed actress Kristen Stewart an Oscar nod. She is nominated in the Best Actress category at the 2022 Academy Awards for her portrayal of the princess in the film Spencer. If she does win, she’ll join a whole host of stars who took home the coveted prize thanks to the regal touch. Here are six royal roles that won an Oscar.
Henry VIII, played by Charles Laughton, 1933
It’s perhaps not that surprising that the always interesting Henry VIII provided a king of a role for Charles Laughton, the superstar of his day, who scooped Best Actor at the 1933 Oscars for his portrayal of the much married monarch. He took home the prize for his portrayal of the king in The Private Life of Henry VIII directed by Alexander Korda and, bizarrely, a comedy.
Eleanor of Aquitaine, played by Katherine Hepburn, 1969
Katharine Hepburn won a record fourth Oscar for her part as Eleanor of Aquitaine in the highly acclaimed The Lion in Winter. The film focuses on the political and personal struggles of Eleanor and her husband, King Henry II. Hepburn shared the Best Actress Oscar at the 1969 ceremony with Barbra Streisand who won for her part in Funny Girl.
Elizabeth I, played by Dame Judi Dench, 1999
It’s the shortest time on screen ever to earn an Oscar win. Dame Judi Dench was named Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love where she spent just under ten minutes of actual running time bringing Gloriana to life. No worries, it was a hugely popular performance and also helped make up for Dame Judi just missing out on Best Actress the previous year when she’d been nominated for playing Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown.
Elizabeth II, played by Dame Helen Mirren, 2007
Dame Helen Mirren won just about every award going for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen which focused on the House of Windsor in the days and weeks following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The actress often spoke of how much she enjoyed playing the Queen in the film and it’s understood the Monarch herself was also very impressed with the performance.
King George VI, played by Colin Firth, 2011
The Queen’s father, King George VI, provided another Oscar winning role for a British actor. The story of how the king learned to manage the stutter that had been with him through most of his life turned Colin Firth into an Academy Award winner. He picked up the Best Actor prize at the 2011 ceremony for his portrayal of Bertie.
Queen Anne, played by Olivia Colman, 2019
Olivia Colman was the last star to pick up an Oscar for a royal role, winning in 2019 for her portrayal of Queen Anne in a lively interpretation of an often overlooked monarch. The film focused on Anne’s relationship with Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales who has now given Kristen Stewart her first run at an Oscar.
The Academy Awards take place in Hollywood on March 27th 2022.
