Kristen Stewart has spoken candidly about the stark difference in how she is treated in Hollywood as an actress and as a director, saying the change was immediate once she got behind the camera.
While talking about her directorial debut, The chronology of waterin an interview with The London TimesStewart said the experience of being taken seriously changed the moment she stopped being seen only as an actress.
“Actresses get treated like shit, I have to tell you,” Stewart said.
“People think anyone can be an actress, but the first time I sat down to talk about my film as a director, I thought, wow, this is a different experience, they talk to me like I’m someone with a brain.”
Stewart explained that the industry often places directors on an unrealistic pedestal, a mentality she believes has long been shaped by male dominance in film.
She rejected the idea that directing requires unattainable genius, saying that belief has hurt how actors, especially women, are perceived.
She added: “There’s this idea that directors have otherworldly skills, which isn’t true. It’s an idea perpetuated by men. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining all the time, but it’s worse for actresses than men, they’re treated like puppets, but they’re not. Imogen [Poots] “He put his whole heart and soul into this film.”
Stewart rose to global fame leading the Twilight franchise before carving out a respected career in independent and arthouse films, including Seberg, Submarine, spencer and love lies bleeding.
His move to management came with The chronology of waterwhich premiered at Cannes in 2025 and was later released in theaters on January 9.
The film stars Imogen Poots as Lidia, a woman who confronts past trauma through competitive swimming and writing.
This isn’t the first time Stewart has addressed the gender imbalance in the film industry.
In a recent interview with The New York TimesShe noted how male actors are often praised for showing emotional breadth while also maintaining a sense of dominance, something she said women are rarely allowed to do.
She described how male performers are often praised for asserting control before showing vulnerability on screen, which can make their work seem more impressive or weird than it really is.
Through her latest comments, Stewart continues to highlight how deeply ingrained attitudes shape the way creative work is valued in Hollywood, and why taking the director’s chair changed not only her role, but also the way people listened to her.
