‘Actresses Get Treated Like S–t.’ Kristen Stewart Did Not Hold Back About Why You Don’t See Her Acting As Much Anymore

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Kristen Stewart has always preferred to avoid the typical Hollywood scene, and her recent statements explain why she’s been taking on different kinds of projects lately. While she’s focusing more on directing films—starting with releases in 2026—the Oscar nominee has been openly discussing the challenges actresses face and how much more respect she receives when considered as a director rather than an actor.

Kristen Stewart has been thinking about her career journey – from being a young actress to becoming famous in the Twilight films and then taking on more artistic roles – and how directing has completely changed how she sees the film industry. While promoting her first film as a director, The Chronology of Water, Stewart was very direct about what motivated her to start directing, as she recently explained to The Times:

It’s frustrating to see how actresses are often treated. There’s this assumption that acting is easy, but when I directed a film, I was surprised by how much more seriously people took my opinions – it was like they finally acknowledged I was intelligent and capable.

Kristen Stewart’s recent statements are particularly noteworthy considering her career path. She achieved fame very young – at a time when most people are still discovering themselves – and spent her teenage years and early twenties under constant public attention as the star of the Twilight films. Her co-star, Kellen Lutz, shared that Twilight fans would even follow him to his hotel, illustrating the intense level of attention the cast faced. While the role made Stewart a globally recognized actress, she has also expressed that it restricted how others saw her artistic abilities.

Once the popular film series concluded, Kristen Stewart intentionally chose to work on smaller, more challenging films, which led to praise from critics and an Academy Award nomination for her role in Spencer. However, she noted that the way actresses are generally perceived hasn’t changed much, often being seen as simply tools to execute a vision rather than creative partners. She found this difference particularly noticeable after she began directing herself.

She also questioned the traditional view of film directors, suggesting that the respect often given to them is exaggerated and influenced by gender expectations. The star of Love Lies Bleeding explained that:

People often think directors are magical, but that’s just not true. This idea is often pushed by men, and it’s especially harmful to actresses. They’re often treated like they have no control, like they’re just puppets, which isn’t fair. Imogen, for example, completely dedicated herself to this film, giving it everything she had.

Imogen Poots stars in The Chronology of Water, a film adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir by director Stewart. This LGBTQ+ film took almost eight years to come to fruition. The movie tackles challenging subjects like trauma, sexuality, and control over one’s own body, and the director, originally from Los Angeles, has said making it was a draining, all-consuming, but ultimately fulfilling experience.

Feeling satisfied with her work likely explains why the lead actress from Snow White and the Huntsman is now choosing her roles more carefully, so it will be interesting to see what she does next. Her directness might not be a surprise to those who have followed her career, but it does help us understand how her priorities are changing. She isn’t retiring, but rather concentrating on a more specific type of work.

The movie The Chronology of Water first opened in select U.S. theaters on December 5, 2025, and then became available across the country on January 9. See your local movie guide for showtimes.

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2026-01-26 20:11