Dominic West reveals the REAL reason he accepted the role of Prince Charles in controversial series The Crown

Dominic West has revealed the real reason why he decided to take on the 'juicy' role of Prince Charles in The Crown.

The actor, 54, played Prince Charles in the fifth and final sixth series of The Crown, following the Prince of Wales from the breakdown of his marriage to Princess Diana to the start of his marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles.

Speaking on The Graham Norton Show – which airs on Friday – Dominic said: 'It really spoke to me.

'There was a lot of pressure on the series because it was so successful, but it was such a juicy role that I couldn't turn it down.'

Dominic also spoke about making his theater debut ahead of starring as Italian-American Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's play A View From The Bridge in February.

The actor, 54, played Prince Charles in the fifth and final series of The Crown (pictured with Elizabeth Debicki who played Princess Diana)

Speaking about why he took on the role, Dominic said: “It was the end of The Crown, we were on strike and I wanted to do something.

“Michael Gambon (who played the same role) had just died and the memory of him doing that was groundbreaking. When I read the lines, I could hear him. It's a big part, a big part.'

A View From The Bridge premiered in 1955 at the Coronet Theater (now Eugene O'Neill Theater) in New York City.

Michael Gambon, best known for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, played the role in 1987 and died in 2023.

Dominic appeared on Graham's famous red sofa with American singer-songwriter Teddy Swims, Game Of Thrones' Jacob Anderson and Alan Carr.

There was also Michelle Keegan, whose new Netflix drama Fool Me Once has soared to the top of the viewing charts.

Before The Crown, Dominic was best known for his role as Jimmy McNulty on HBO's The Wire, which ran from 2002-2008.

Dominic is married to Catherine FitzGerald, of the aristocratic Anglo-Norman FitzGerald dynasty, with whom he briefly dated at university.

Dominic said: 'There was enormous pressure on the series because it was so successful, but it was such a juicy role that I couldn't turn it down' (right, Charles pictured in 1997)

Dominic also spoke about making his theater debut ahead of playing Italian-American Eddie Carbone in Arthur Miller's play A View From The Bridge in February.

Michael Gambon, best known for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series (pictured), played the role in A View From The Bridge in 1987 and died in 2023

They have four children together: Dora, 17, Senan, 14, who appeared in The Crown with his father, Francis, 13, and Christabel, 8.

Dominic also plays Molly, 24, an actress, from a previous relationship.

The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Friday at 10.45pm. Previous episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

A View From The Bridge opens at The Theater Royal Bath on February 16 and runs until March 16.

Dominic appeared on Graham's famous red sofa with (L-R): Michelle Keegan, Game Of Thrones' Jacob Anderson, Alan Carr and American singer-songwriter Teddy Swims