Actresses are treated like ‘puppets’ in Hollywood, says Kristen Stewart: ‘An idea perpetuated by men’

What happened:
Actor-turned-director Kristen Stewart has sharply criticised Hollywood’s treatment of female actors, saying actresses are often denied agency and reduced to “puppets” within the film industry.

Speaking to Variety while promoting her directorial debut The Chronology of Water, Stewart said the difference in how she is treated as a director versus as an actor was striking.

What Kristen Stewart said:
“Actresses get treated like shit, I’ve got to tell you. People think anyone could be an actress,” Stewart said, adding that when she first spoke about her film as a director, she was surprised by the respect she received.
“They are talking to me like I’m somebody with a brain,” she noted.

She argued that Hollywood places directors on an unrealistic pedestal while sidelining actors, particularly women.
“There’s this idea that directors have otherworldly abilities, which is not true. It’s an idea perpetuated by men,” Stewart said.

Highlighting gender disparity, she added, “It’s worse for female actors than male ones — they get treated like puppets, but they are not.”

Why it matters:
Stewart’s remarks add to the growing conversation around power imbalance, gender bias, and creative control in Hollywood. Her comments underline how female actors are often undervalued despite their contribution to storytelling and performance.

She specifically praised The Chronology of Water lead actor Imogen Poots, saying she “put her whole body and soul into this movie,” challenging the notion that actors merely execute instructions.

About Stewart’s directorial debut:
The Chronology of Water, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, marks Kristen Stewart’s first feature film as a director. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, where it reportedly received a six-minute standing ovation.

The film explores a woman’s journey of transforming trauma into art and stars Imogen Poots, Jim Belushi and Thora Birch. Stewart has said she worked on the project for nearly eight years before bringing it to the screen.