Since its release in 2016, The Crown has remained one of the most popular shows on Netflix. Following the stories of the British Royal Family members, the show has amassed an incredible 73 million views so far. Of course, its success lies in part in the costumes, but we cannot fail to mention the acting - which has earned The Crown 39 Emmy nominations.
With a very heavy budget, The Crown stars a number of famous actors, whose excellent portrayals of their royal counterparts have catapulted the show to superstardom. Below, we have compiled the cast of The Crown season 5 and their real-life royals.
Born on 9 January 1956, English actress Imelda Staunton first rose to fame as a singer, having performed in several plays and musicals. On film, Staunton is also a prominent actress with notable roles as the wicked Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series and Nanny McPhee. Staunton will play the Queen in seasons five and six of The Crown.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom ruled for the longest period in British history. The queen's coronation was historic because it was the first to ever be broadcast on television. She strove to modernize her reign and be responsive to a changing public while upholding traditions linked with the throne as the longest-serving monarch in British history. At age 96, Elizabeth passed away on September 8, 2022.
Born on June 1, 1947, Jonathan Pryce is a veteran actor famous for his performance on stage and on TV. The Welsh actor has starred in various notable films such as The Two Popes, Tomorrow Never Dies, and The Wife. He also gained international recognition after playing High Sparrow in HBO's hit show Game of Thrones. In The Crown season 5, Jonathan Pryce plays the role of Prince Philip.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was Queen Elizabeth II's husband. As a result, Charles was the British monarch's consort from the day Elizabeth became queen on February 6, 1952, until his passing in 2021, making him the longest-serving royal partner in history. He served as the chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a youth rewards program for persons between the ages of 14 and 24, and he was a patron, president, or member of more than 780 organisations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Born on 24 August 1990, Elizabeth Debicky is a rising Australian actress who first burst into the public eye with The Great Gatsby (2013). Other critically acclaimed films that star Debicky are Tenet, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3. The blonde beauty plays the role of Princess Diana in The Crown season five.
Princess Diana was the first wife of King Charles III and the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Dubbed 'the People's Princess', Diana was known for her dedication to social causes and charitable work, which made her a very different royal. However, she also made headlines for her controversial marriage to King Charles, which involved extramarital affairs. The Princess passed away in 1997 in a tragic car accident, much to the mourning of the Brits.
Born on 12 March 1956, Lesley Manville has starred in various films of different genres in her career. The English actress' notable projects include Dance with a Stranger (1985), A Christmas Carol (2009), Maleficent (2014), Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019), and Let Him Go (2020). The actress plays Princess Margaret in season five of The Crown, a role that once belonged to Vanessa Kirby.
Princess Margaret, The Queen's sister, was the younger child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She participated actively in the public activity of the Royal Family throughout her full and diverse life, supporting the Queen. She served as the president or patron of nearly 80 organizations, from ballet companies to children's charities.
Born on 26 November 1943, Marcia Warren is among the most experienced cast of The Crown. Working mainly on stage, the actress's notable projects include Blithe Spirit and The Sea. An extremely low-key figure, Warren plays The Queen Mother in The Crown season five.
Elizabeth I, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, worked hard to establish her country as a dominant force in politics, trade, and the arts. Her cleverness, bravery, and grand self-display aroused fervent declarations of allegiance and assisted in bringing the country together in the face of foreign attacking risks.
Born on 15 October 1969, Dominic West is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame as Jimmy McNulty in the popular series The Wire (2002-2008), and Jean Valjean in the 2018 BBC miniseries Les Misérables. The Tomb Raider star plays Prince Charles in season five of The Crown.
Following his mother's passing, Charles ascended the throne and became King Charles II. A very hard-line man, King Charles has declared his plan to downsize the royal residency at Buckingham Palace to reduce cost. As the British longest heir to the throne, King Charles, or Prince Charles as he was often known, made headlines for his controversial affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, and his estrangement of Princess Diana.
Born on 26 July 1968, Olivia Williams is a famous English actress with a long list of films and TV shows. She has starred in some critically and commercially successful films such as Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer (2010). Williams is cast as Camilla Parker Bowles in The Crown season five.
Camilla Parker Bowles is King Charles' second wife, and also his lover during his marriage to Princess Diana in the 1980s and 1990s. First emerging as a hated figure due to her extramarital romance with Charles, Camilla gradually gained public recognition thanks to her dedication to royal services. By contrast to Charles' hot-tempered personality, Camilla is regarded as a very calm and sensible woman of the Royal Family.
Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla, born on 26 October 1980, first burst into the public eye after starring in the BAFTA-winning film United 93 (2006). In 2022, Abdalla made headlines after his excellent performance in Marvel's series Moon Knight. He is cast as businessman Dodi Al Fayed in The Crown season five.
Businessman Dodi Fayed was an Egyptian film producer and the son of billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. He was most famous as the last lover of Princess Diana. Sadly, he also passed away during the fateful car crash that also took Princess Diana's life.
Born on 15 November 1972, Jonny Lee Miller was one of the biggest names in the British entertainment industry. He has starred in various films and TV shows, which include Afterglow (1997), Mansfield Park (1999), The Flying Scotsman (2006), Endgame (2009), and T2 Trainspotting (2017). The veteran actor stars as former British Prime Minister, John Major, in The Crown season five.
A British former politician, John Major served as the Conservative leader and Prime Minister of the UK from 1990 to 1997. During his tenure, Major was most famous for his removal of the Poll Tax and creation of the Council Tax. After stepping down as an MP in 2001, Major has since pursued endeavors in various fields such as business and charity.
