Over the summer, Naomi Watts has recreated Princess Diana’s romantic life and tragic death for the forthcoming film about the tragic royal. But now the Kent-born actress has turned to one of the Princess’s most brave moments – walking through an Angolan minefield. Wearing a ballistic helmet and flak jacket, the blonde star retraced Diana’s steps, before posing for a photo call with a young landmine victim – just like Princess Diana had done 15 years ago.
Diana famously drew international attention to the danger of landmines when she visited Angola in January 1997 – seven months before her death in Paris. Her photocalls in Angola are believed to have influenced the Ottawa Treaty, an international ban on anti-personnel landmines, which was drafted just a few weeks after her death and signed in December 1997. As she filmed scenes in Africa, Naomi looked the spitting image of Diana in her capris, camel loafers and blue Red Cross blouse.
After filming scenes walking through a minefield, Naomi then recreated Diana’s visit to a children’s hospital, where she had met amputee Sandra Tigica. The upcoming film focuses on the last two years of Diana’s life before her death and on her relationship with Dr Khan, who is being portrayed by Lost star Naveen Andrews, and her last romance with Dodi Al Fayed. Dr Khan confirmed in his testimonial at the inquest into her death that they ended their nearly two year romance in June 1997. The following month, she began seeing Dodi and accepted his invitation to join him on holiday in the South of France.
The movie from German director Oliver Hirschbiegel was originally called Caught In Flight, before being changed to simply Diana. In July, Watts and the cast recreated the last few hours of the Princess’s life as Trieste, North East Italy, doubled for Paris. Watts has said she is ‘terrified’ of playing such an icon on film. The Oscar-nominated actress has said of her controversial new role: ‘She is a part of our history, an incredible woman and fascinating but a tragic ending.
‘The film-makers came to me and it’s a good script and it’s very scary and I kind of wanted to say “no” but I couldn’t.’ Miss Watts moved to London’s Kensington to prepare for the role and was said to have visited Diana’s favourite places -such as The Harbour Club and Beauchamp Place – as part of the preparations to get into character. – Dailymail