Kristen Stewart Considers Departing US Amid Trump Presidency, Citing Creative Constraints
Acclaimed actress and director Kristen Stewart has openly discussed her potential departure from the United States while Donald Trump remains in office, revealing significant concerns about creative freedom and the political climate affecting the film industry.
"Reality Breaking" Under Current Administration
During promotion for her directorial debut feature film The Chronology of Water, Stewart responded with "probably not" when questioned about remaining in the US under Trump's presidency. The 35-year-old filmmaker expressed to The Sunday Times that "reality is breaking completely under Trump," while suggesting people should "take a page out of his book and create the reality we want to live in."
Filming Abroad Due to US Constraints
Stewart's film The Chronology of Water, based on Lidia Yuknavitch's 2011 memoir, was shot entirely in Latvia because the director stated it would have been "impossible" to produce in the United States. She revealed she "can't work freely" in her home country under current conditions, though emphasized "I don't want to give up completely."
The actress-director articulated ambitious plans to "make movies in Europe and then shove them down the throat of the American people," demonstrating her determination to circumvent creative limitations she perceives in the US film industry.
Trump's Impact on Film Industry
Stewart specifically highlighted Trump's threat of tariffs on films produced outside the United States as "terrifying" for the entertainment sector. This economic pressure compounds her concerns about artistic expression and production freedom that have influenced her decision to film internationally.
Longstanding Public Feud with Former President
The tension between Stewart and Trump spans over a decade, most notably when the then-businessman tweeted in 2012 about her relationship with Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson. Trump's social media commentary at the time suggested Pattinson "should not take back Kristen Stewart" following her publicized involvement with married director Rupert Sanders.
Stewart addressed this history directly during her 2017 Saturday Night Live hosting appearance, declaring "Donald, if you didn't like me then, you're probably really not going to like me now" before publicly coming out during her opening monologue.
Directorial Debut Receives Mixed Critical Response
The Chronology of Water has garnered varied reviews since its release, with particular praise directed toward lead actress Imogen Poots' performance and Stewart's distinctive directorial approach. Critics have noted the film's "heartfelt and unrefined" quality, describing it as "defiantly at odds with today's risk-averse business model" within the industry.
Liberation Through Directing
Stewart contrasted her experiences as an actress versus director, revealing that "actresses get treated like s***" in Hollywood. She described the "different experience" of being treated as "somebody with a brain" when discussing her film as a director rather than as a performer.
Despite admitting she was a "maniac" during production and "barely existed outside of it," Stewart affirmed "I've never felt more alive" than while creating her directorial debut, highlighting the profound personal and professional fulfillment she discovered through filmmaking.
The actress, who married screenwriter Dylan Meyer in April last year, continues to navigate her career between commercial projects like the Twilight franchise and more personal artistic endeavors, with her latest comments suggesting an increasing inclination toward international production and potential relocation from the United States.
