The Crown season 6: What do the cast look like in real life?
Wow at Camilla's transformation
Finally, the sixth and final season of Netflix's The Crown is here, well part one anyway, the second part will drop on 14th December. And tbh we're really not ready to say goodbye to the series, in particular the incredible cast who take on the roles of the Royal Family.
There's Imelda Staunton playing Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Dominic West as Prince Charles, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and newcomer Rufus Kampa as young Prince William, and Fflyn Edwards as young Prince Harry.
Season six will focus largely on the last few weeks of Princess Diana's life, her tragic car accident and the beginning of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship.
So, without further ado, what do The Crown season six cast look like next to their characters on the show?
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II
Imelda Staunton took on the leading role for The Crown season 5, telling Tudum the role felt 'extra challenging' due to the fact Queen Elizabeth II is a very recent memory.
"I think the challenge that I felt for myself — the extra challenge, if there wasn’t enough on my plate — was to be the queen that people recognise much more now, the older queen,” Staunton recalls. “Claire Foy’s [version] was almost a costume drama because it seemed so long ago, and then Olivia Colman’s was, again, like a period piece. [This season] just feels so much more present. I thought, ‘I can’t fool anyone now’."
Imelda Staunton in real life
Imelda Staunton, 67, is recognisable to many for her roles in Downton Abbey, Nanny McPhee and as Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip
Speaking of his prep that went into playing Philip, Pryce told the Telegraph, "I had seen him as not very outgoing, quite aloof, but when I started to talk to people who knew him it was clear that he was a great person to spend time with, very funny, very full of life,’ he said. No one I spoke to had a bad word to say."
Jonathan Pryce in real life
Jonathan Pryce, who has previously starred in Game Of Thrones and The Two Popes. He was knighted in 2021 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama.
Dominic West as Prince Charles
In an interview, Dominic West revealed he almost turned down the role in The Crown, because of his lack of similarity to Charles.
"I said, 'You've got the wrong guy, I don't look anything like him,'" West recalled to EW. "I was slightly in despair, you know, how was I going to get the physicality of this guy," says the actor, "because the only time I really look like Charles, is from behind, because the hair is just perfect."
Dominic West in real life
Dominic West is best known for his roles in The Affair and The Wire, but most recently appeared in The Pursuit Of Love and SAS: Rogue Heroes.
Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles
It was announced in April 2021 that Olivia Williams was taking over from Emerald Fennell as Prince Charles' friend who became his lover, Camilla Parker Bowles.
Olivia Williams in real life
In real life, Olivia is brunette and made a name for herself in theatres and plays, but also starred as Lady Priscilla Hamilton in the period drama, The Halcyon in 2017.
Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
Lesley Manville, who took over as Queen Elizabeth II's sister Margaret, opened up to Yahoo Canada about the heightened tension around season five following the Queen's passing.
"I understand that there's this heightened set of feelings because obviously the Queen has died and that has generated an enormous amount of emotion, not just for individuals, but for art, for my nation, and globally,” Manville said. “But The Crown Season 5 and Season 6 will not be going anywhere near that time."
Lesley Manville in real life
The 67-year-old actor recently starred in Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris, but is also recognisable from Phantom Thread and Sherwood.
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana
Elizabeth Debicki took over from Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in season five, responded to criticism of the show fictionalising real live events. "I mean, it is clearly fictional," the actor told the Guardian. "I feel like audiences know that, because there are actors, playing parts. I never watched The Crown and thought, this is a documentary, or this is obviously true."
Elizabeth Debicki in real life
Elizabeth is most recognisable for her part in The Night Manager, but she has since also starred in Widows and Tenet.
Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne
47-year-old British actor Claudia takes on the role of Queen Elizabeth II's daughter Princess Anne, following in Erin Doherty's footsteps.
Claudia Harrison in real life
Claudia is known for The Cat's Meow (2001), The IT Crowd (2006) and Murphy's Law (2003).
Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair
Bertie Carvel joined The Crown at the end of season five as Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He said he really enjoyed recreating Tony Blair's 'New Dawn' speech, saying of the scene was: "an incredible moment for me because I remember that moment [in real life], and I remember what it felt like. It felt like a ‘new dawn’ has broken, has it not? It really felt like a burst of hope."
Bertie Carvel in real life
Bertie Carvel, 46, is best known for his roles in Doctor Foster, Dalgliesh and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed
Salim Daw joined The Crown as Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed, or Momo as Princess Diana calls him in the series, in series five and returns for season six.
Speaking of his role as Mohamed, Salim said: "When I left season five, I took Momo Al-Fayed with me. I never left him and he never left me. We were together all the time.”
Salim Daw in real life
Salim Daw, 71, has been acting since the early 1980s and is best known for his roles in Oslo, Gaza Mon Amour, L’infiltré, and Fauda.
Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed
Last season Khalid Abdalla joined the cast of The Crown as Dodi Fayed, who has a romantic relationship with Princess Diana.
Ahead of the release of season six Khalid said he wanted to give his portrayal of Dodi, a more three-dimensional picture of what the man was actually like in real life, describing him as: "a gentle, shy person with a very intense and important relationship with his father."
Khalid Abdalla in real life
Apart from his work in The Crown Khalid Abdalla is also known for his roles in United 93, The Kite Runner, and Assassin’s Creed.
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