Actor-director Kristen Stewart is calling out the blatant gender discrimination embedded deep into Hollywood.
The "Twilight" star revealed that female actors are often dismissed as mindless "puppets". "Actresses get treated like s**t, I’ve got to tell you... People think anyone could be an actress,” she said in a latest interview.
However, she noticed a seismic shift in respect once she donned the director's hat for her film "The Chronology of Water" starring Imogen Poots and Thora Birch.
The industry suddenly began treating her like someone "with a brain," she said, exposing a culture that devalues the intelligence of actresses while aggrandising the role of the director.
“The first time I sat down to talk about my movie as a director, I thought, wow, this is a different experience, they are talking to me like I’m somebody with a brain," Steward said, highlighting how there is a perception that directors have "otherworldly abilities", which is not true.
Also read: Natalie Portman slams Oscars for snubbing women directors
“It’s an idea perpetuated by men. Not to sound like I’m complaining all the time, but it’s worse for female actors than male ones—they get treated like puppets, but they are not... Imogen put her whole body and soul into this movie," she added.
"The Chronology of Water", a 2025 biographical drama based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, released in October after having its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 2025.
It revolved around writer Lidia Yuknavitch, chronicling her journey from an abusive childhood through competitive swimming, addiction, sexual trauma, and self-destruction, and ultimately finding healing and her voice.
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