TV

Imelda Staunton ‘to take over from Olivia Coleman as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown’


Imelda Staunton has reportedly been cast in season five and six of The Crown (Picture: Getty Images)

Imelda Staunton has reportedly been cast as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, taking over the role from Olivia Coleman.

Olivia is currently starring in the third series of the Netflix hit opposite Tobias Menzies as her husband Prince Philip.

She originally replaced Claire Foy who played the Queen in series one and two with Matt Smith as Prince Philip.

According to Mail Online Imelda, 63, will star in seasons five and six after being ‘approached by senior producers and casting directors to play the Queen from her mid-60s on’.

The series are likely to span the queen’s reign throughout the 90s, including 1992 which she famously called her ‘annus horribilis’.

It was the year Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson separated and Princess Anne divorced Captain Mark Phillips.

The period of time covered is also likely to include the deaths of Princess Diana in 1997, and Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother in 2002.

Olivia Coleman is playing the Queen for two series (Picture: Netflix)

In season four Princess Diana will be played by Emma Corrin opposite Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles. Gillian Anderson will also appear as Margaret Thatcher.

Season three, currently on Netflix, is Olivia’s debut as Her Majesty and covers the Aberfan disaster and the arrival of Prince Philip’s mother Princess Alice of Battenberg.

Harold Wilson’s time as Prime Minister, the moon landing, the decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean and Princess Margaret’s affair with Roddy Llewellyn are also covered in the time period of 1964 until 1977.

Previously Dame Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in the 2006 film The Queen, ruled out stepping into Olivia’s shoes.

‘I think it’s more interesting when you see other portraits and it builds into a more interesting picture than just someone coming back’ she said on Lorraine.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Netflix for comment.

The Crown season three is available on Netflix now.



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