The British Royal family is one of the most private yet sensationalized families in history with countless depictions in media and otherwise, yet The Crown still stands out. Besides the incredible cinematography, writing, and overall quality, The Crown is a perfect example of biographical character work and phenomenal acting. Each season has had great success with crafting recognizable and believable depictions of real people while also creating characters who are fascinating and enticing. Notable examples of this achievement can be seen in the first season with Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and John Lithgow playing Winston Churchill. One could argue that the show is so captivating due to the fact that the story is real and many of its viewers were around at the time the events occurred. I would argue that the characters that are created by actors such as Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin are as enticing as fictional characters as they are creating depictions of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
The Crown is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed Netflix original series. The show is about the ins and outs of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom starting with the end of King George VI’s reign in the early 50s and leading to the tragic story of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in the show’s fourth season. From the first time Diana and Charles meet, all the way to 1990. While obviously this storyline is the focus, there are many other developments that continue the somewhat biographical nature of the show in terms of its focus on Queen Elizabeth II. For example, one episode focuses on the break-in of Michael Fagan in 1982. The way Peter Morgan, one of the main writers of the show, is able to weave these stories and events together in a seamless, truthful yet dramatic, way, is nothing short of mesmerizing and beyond impressive.
In interviews, Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin speak of the crafting work that went into their fantastic portrayals. One particular aspect of their work that is particularly fascinating is the vocal work. Josh O’Connor talks about how the Royals have a tendency to speak through their teeth, which is a detail that brings a rigidity and posh feeling to their speech patterns. Emma Corrin mentions how princess Diana’s speech often tilts down at the end, which is also interesting, because it has a subconscious sad connotation. The physical crafting work is also an intriguing aspect of the show. Each of the actors picked up on key details about the people they portray which enhanced the believability. These small details transport you to the time of the events and remind you, sometimes eerily, of the people they are meant to represent. It really is quite remarkable considering the amount of fiction in The Crown how effortlessly one sees the real people through the embellishments.
The top three performances in the fourth season are Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher, Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, and Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, with a notable mention of Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. Obviously the list of celebrated actors goes on, but in an effort to be brief, I have cut my favorites down to these few. Gillian Anderson’s fabulous crafting work certainly paid off. Many were unnerved by her performance because those who lived through Thatcher’s time as Prime Minister had never seen a more personal side of her. This speaks to the uncanny performance Anderson gave. Josh O’Connor did a fantastic job of walking the line between holding Prince Charles accountable while still not playing him like a villain. I think he made a balanced character that the viewer can sympathize with and/or criticize. Olivia Colman’s vocal work is what stood out the most to me, same with Claire Foy, who previously played the same character, Queen Elizabeth II. The uniqueness of it makes it integral to the character. Similar to Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth has a very specific public persona and seeing how one might imagine her personal self to be without coming off as completely contrived is quite a feat. Finally, the notable mention must go to Helena Bonham Carter for her acting in the seventh episode entitled “The Hereditary Principle.” This episode ranks as my favorite from this season, simply because the writing is so fantastic. I love the extra storyline so much. It was refreshing to see depictions of how taboo mental health was and still is and the shame associated with dealing with it, particularly in the 80s. Carter’s acting takes the plot to a whole new level, particularly in the therapy scenes and with her love-interest “Dazzle.” Again, these are just some highlights of the acting in this season.
Every season of The Crown has included some of the best actors to date, critically acclaimed writing, and unbeatable artistic integrity. This season is clearly no exception. If you haven’t watched it yet, make sure you look out for these key acting details: physicality and vocal work that reflects the real people, class differences that influence habits, speech, and mannerisms, and finally the public versus private personas of these incredibly famous characters.
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