‘I Had To Put A Straightjacket On’: Kristen Stewart Has A Lot Of Thoughts On Directing Vs. Acting

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Kristen Stewart has been acting for 25 years, starting at just 10 years old. Her new film, The Chronology of Water, marks her directorial debut. She recently told TopMob that directing was a demanding experience, requiring her to use different skills than acting.

For eight years, Kristen Stewart has been dedicated to bringing The Chronology of Water to the screen, a project she faced difficulty funding until recently. Inspired by Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir of the same name, the film is now scheduled for release in 2026. Stewart shared with us the unique obstacles she overcame in making her vision a reality.

Filmmaking is organized chaos. I created a framework for the actress, Imogen, to fully immerse herself in the role and bring her own experiences to the movie. My biggest challenge was letting go and trusting that the years I’d spent developing the film would naturally influence the final result. For me, the most important thing was the journey of making the movie, the creative process, and the overall experience.

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Bringing a creative idea to life is rarely exactly how you imagine it. Director Per Stewart explained that she had to learn to trust both the filmmaking process and her lead actress, Imogen Poots. She described it as a challenging experience, like having to hold back and let things unfold naturally.

The film, The Chronology of Water, tells the story of a young woman overcoming a difficult childhood marked by her father’s verbal, physical, and sexual abuse of herself, her sister, and her mother. It follows her path to healing through competitive swimming and writing, while also depicting her struggles with substance abuse as a result of the trauma.

Kristen Stewart once mentioned she wouldn’t be acting in the film she was directing, instead choosing the incredibly skilled Imogen Poots for the lead role of Lidia Yuknavitch. Stewart explained that her years of working with different directors shaped her understanding of what it meant to become a director herself.

The best collaborations I have with directors are deeply personal and insightful. They truly connect with the material and work with me as creative equals – almost as if they’re acting alongside the cast. They fully immerse themselves in the project, letting their vision and energy drive the entire film. It’s like they see me as a canvas for their artistic expression. I haven’t often experienced that level of artistic leadership; I’ve rarely worked with a director who so powerfully guided and inspired me.

According to Stewart, her lead actor was essential to creating the independent film, which was shot over six weeks last summer in Latvia and Malta. We also spoke with Jim Belushi, another of the film’s stars, who shared his thoughts on Stewart’s directing style.

She possessed a writer’s imagination, an actress’s emotional depth, and a director’s vision – a rare and powerful combination of talents. She truly embodies a complete creative force.

John Belushi, who acted alongside Kristen Stewart as the author Ken Kesey, described Stewart as a gifted director – a “shaman,” he called her – and expressed hope she’d direct again. Thora Birch, who played Claudia, Stewart’s character’s sister, noted Stewart’s incredible energy, saying she didn’t think Stewart sat down even once during filming.

Kristen Stewart’s first time directing a movie comes out in theaters this Friday, January 9th. Be sure to also look out for other films directed by women coming soon!

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2026-01-07 02:38