Interview: ‘Spencer’ makeup artist Wakana Yoshihara on transforming Kristen Stewart into Princess Diana [VIDEO]

Along with Kristen Stewart’s powerhouse lead performance in Pablo Larraín’s Spencer, the film is a technical treat from top-to-bottom, thanks to Claire Mathon’s masterful cinematography, Guy Hendrix Dyas and Yesim Zolan’s pristine production design, Jonny Greenwood’s gloriously jazzy score, and, of course, the terrific makeup team responsible for transforming Stewart into Princess Diana before our very eyes – a transformation so convincing that it becomes almost impossible to separate the star from the Princess of Wales.

Leading that team was none other than tremendously talented Wakana Yoshihara. Over the years, Yoshihara has worked on a number of major Hollywood productions, from enormous fantasy epics (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Snow White and the Huntsman) to Kenneth Branagh’s adaptations of Agatha Christie’s classic Hercule Poirot adventures (Murder on the Orient Express and the upcoming Death on the Nile), and she’s made quite a name for herself in the community.

This year, she assisted Branagh yet again in his much-acclaimed awards hopeful Belfast (for which she received a nomination for Best Make Up & Hair Design from the British Independent Film Awards), but she’s set to leave an even larger impression on the campaign trail with her work here in Spencer, already being hailed as one of the most notable Makeup & Hairstyling achievements of the year. In her interview with Awards Watch, Yoshihara talked about what a task it was to wholly transform Kristen Stewart into this beloved British legend – especially due to constraints that come with shooting a film during the coronavirus pandemic – and how her service to Spencer compared to past projects.

Spencer is currently playing only in theaters.

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Zoë Rose Bryant

Though Zoë Rose Bryant has only worked in film criticism for a little under three years – turning a collegiate passion into a full-time career by writing for outlets such as Next Best Picture, AwardsWatch, and Loud and Clear Reviews – her captivation with cinema has been a lifelong fascination, appreciating film in all its varying forms, from horror movies to heartfelt romantic comedies and everything in between. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, she made the move to Los Angeles in 2021 after graduating from college and now spends her days additionally working as a List Editor and occasional writer for Screen Rant (as she attempts to attend every screening under the sun). As a trans critic, she also seeks to champion underrepresented voices in the LGBTQ+ community in film criticism and offer original insight on how gender and sexuality are explored in modern entertainment. You can find Zoë Rose on Twitter at @ZoeRoseBryant.

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