Was Terrence Stamp Really Princess Diana's Lover? Here's What The Actor Revealed

Terence Stamp, the dashing British actor whose piercing blue eyes and magnetic screen presence made him one of the defining stars of the 1960s, has died at the age of 87.

The 'Superman' villain-turned-screen icon passed away on Sunday, his family confirmed, leaving behind what they described as an 'extraordinary body of work' that will continue to inspire for years to come.

But away from the screen, Stamp's private life was as intriguing as his on-screen characters. He was linked to some of the world's most famous women – from Brigitte Bardot to supermodel Jean Shrimpton – and, most sensationally, a rumoured friendship with Princess Diana that has long fuelled speculation of romance.

From Oscar Nominee to Screen Heartthrob

Born in London in 1938, Stamp's career took off with his 1962 debut in Billy Budd, which earned him an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe. By the mid-60s, he was starring in films such as Far From the Madding Crowd alongside then-girlfriend Julie Christie.

Yet his career faltered at the close of the decade. 'When the 1960s ended, I just ended with it,' he later told The Guardian. By his early thirties, he found himself out of favour in an industry suddenly searching for the 'next young Terence Stamp'.

His fortunes changed in 1978 when he returned triumphantly to Hollywood as General Zod in Superman, opposite Christopher Reeve. He reprised the role in the 1980 sequel, cementing himself as one of cinema's most unforgettable villains.

A Reinvention as Character Actor

After years of absence from major films, Stamp embraced his evolution into a character actor. His acclaimed turn as Bernadette, a trans woman in 1994's The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, earned him a Golden Globe nomination and proved his versatility.

'Cross-dressing has been around at least since Shakespeare,' he told People at the time. 'It would be nice if greater androgyny were the next big social development.'

Other notable credits include Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), and his later role in Last Night in Soho (2021).

Lovers, Loss and a Rumoured Princess

Stamp's romantic life was as colourful as his career. He famously dated Bardot, Christie, and Shrimpton – though he admitted the latter broke his heart. Later, he married Elizabeth O'Rourke, 35 years his junior, though they divorced after six years.

In a 2017 interview with the Daily Mail, Stamp spoke candidly about relationships, sex, and his surprising bond with Princess Diana.

'I saw the sadness in her because she'd gone into her marriage believing – she was a believer in marriage. And it didn't turn out the way she expected it to,' he recalled.

Biographer Andrew Morton once suggested they were lovers. Stamp never confirmed this, but admitted they spent private time together – often just talking for hours. He once made risotto for her at his Albany apartment in London, even spelling out 'HRH' in truffle paste as a playful gesture.

'It wasn't like that,' he said of their friendship. 'She just wanted somebody to talk to that was a guy, who would give her objective opinions.'

Facing Mortality With Serenity

In later years, Stamp lived a disciplined life of vegetarianism, yoga and meditation. After surviving a near-fatal horse accident while filming in Ukraine, he reflected deeply on death.

'Fear is only thought. The acknowledging of it is the ending of it,' he said. His hope, he added, was to die 'totally present in the moment'.

For all his mysticism, he never lost his eye for style. Even in his late seventies, he favoured bespoke suits from the height of his fame, likening his body to an Aston Martin that required care and discipline.

A Lasting Legacy

From his Oscar-nominated debut to his cult villainy as General Zod, Stamp's career spanned six decades and multiple reinventions. Yet it was his enigmatic private life – full of glamour, heartbreak and tantalising royal whispers – that ensured he remained one of Britain's most fascinating actors.

As fans mourn his passing, Stamp's legacy is clear: a gifted performer, a reluctant sex symbol, and perhaps, Diana's most surprising confidant.