Netflix have recently announced their new casting of Queen Elizabeth for Season 5 of The Crown as we say goodbye to Olivia Colman and hello to Imelda Staunton. Season 5 is in the making and it seems right to reminisce on our past Queen Elizabeth and welcome a new one to the squad!
Netflix have recently announced their new casting of Queen Elizabeth for Season 5 and to fans surprise an unexpected Season 6. In these two seasons with Queen Elizabeth ranging from the age of 64 to her 70’s, we welcome Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey star Imelda Staunton. Staunton has a high chance of being involved in historical events in the late 90’s such as the infamous 1995 interview with Princess Diana and her divorce with Her Majesty’s son Prince Charles in 1996.
The New Queen has spoke on her new role as she stated ‘I am genuinely honoured to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking The Crown to its conclusion.’ The idea of a change in casting will not come as a shock to fans as they previously witnessed the recasting after Season 2 from Claire Foy to Olivia Colman. I think it’s only fair to take a trip down memory lane and revisit Staunton’s predecessors who showed multiple sides to Queen Elizabeth in a breathtaking manner.
A Young Queen in the Making
Claire Foy started the journey of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, representing her in the first two seasons during the ages of 21-38. Foy portrays a young Queen in the making and brings a historical side to The Queens journey that fans may not have been aware of.
A memorable moment Foy represents is The Queens coronation in 1953 which also was monumentally the first televised coronation in English history. We watched Foy portray the young Queen beautifully as she showcased a number of emotions and qualities such as anxious, fearless, story and also her determination to make her marriage to Prince Phillip (Matt Smith) work in the end, showcasing her romance also.
A Changed Queen?
So how do you after two seasons of a fan favourite Queen, come in and change the tone?
Olivia Colman’s transition to Queen Elizabeth was done smoothly and represented a changed and aged Queen along with a challenging and ageing country. Colman portrayed The Queen between the ages of 38-64 and we watch her transform to a mother figure in a way that shows us her struggle with her unconditional love for her children alongside her inability to truly bond with them. Additionally we watch an older woman try find herself amongst her insecurities about herself and her self love. Colman represents both a vulnerable Queen as well as a hardening Queen, the contrast is spectacular.
Because behind closed doors, we don’t know what she’s like. Definitely… the hardest part I’ve done is someone who’s real.
Colman in a virtual conversation conducted by Mountview Academy of theatre arts.
Being Queen Elizabeth
Season 5’s New Queen Elizabeth Imelda Staunton shares similar thoughts to Colman as she told People ‘I think my sort of extra challenge, as if I needed it, is that I’m now doing The Queen that we’re a little more familiar with.’ We must appreciate this added pressure and applaud Staunton as she takes on her new role!
It’s amazing to watch these women take on a powerful role of The Queen Elizabeth and support each other as they do so! We can all agree that each actress has been phenomenal and done each stage of The Queen complete justice. We have every faith Imelda Staunton will do the same as she brings The Crown to its close.
Other new faces we expect to see in Season 5 and 6 of The Crown are
- Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne
- Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
- Jonathan Pyrce as Prince Phillip
- Elizabeth Debick as Princess Diana
- Dominic West as Prince Charles
I don’t know about you but the new season can’t come quick enough with this thrilling new cast line-up!
To find out more about more recent Summer Netflix shows that you may have missed, check out this!