Gillian Anderson hints The Crown could have been more controversial as she hits back at criticism
Gillian is fed up with the criticism of the hit Netflix drama about the Royal Family from distinguished figures like Dame Judi Dench.
The actress played Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of the hit Netflix drama.
And the X-Files star, 54, warns that the series could have been much more damaging. “It’s a drama,” she declares.
Speaking up: Gillian Anderson is fed up with The Crown’s criticism of the royal family from distinguished figures like Dame Judi Dench
‘There are a lot of researchers involved, and a lot of people checking, double-checking and triple-checking.
There are many things that have not been written about and that could be written about. And if you knew the difference between them, you would see that there is a lot of kindness and restraint.
She adds: “At the end of the day, there are incredibly compassionate and whole views of human beings.
“And what you’re left with are complex, well-drawn, mature characters. And there’s a lot of things in there that you have to say, ‘If you didn’t, we wouldn’t be writing about it.’
Role: The actress played Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of the hit Netflix drama.
Anderson even states in an interview with Total Film that the Windsors should be thankful for the publicity: “The whole family is more internationally loved, celebrated and understood in a way than it wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for the show.”
Anderson, it should be noted, is a special friend of The Crown creator Peter Morgan.
Last month, Gillian showed her support for her partner Peter, 59, at the season five premiere of The Crown.
The star looked amazing in the studded sleeveless number as she posed on the red carpet.
Meanwhile, The Crown has faced plenty of backlash in recent weeks over portrayals of the royal family and over sensationalized events.
With the previous two seasons of The Crown covering the three decades leading up to the 1990s, the entire team has been recast for this series’ 13-year period from 1990 to 2003.
Speaking: And The X-Files star, 54, who is a special friend of The Crown creator Peter Morgan, warned that the series could have been much more damaging.
Opinion: ‘There are many things that have not been written about that could have been. “And if you knew the difference between them, you would see that there is a lot of kindness and restraint”
Focusing heavily on the fallout between Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, and King Charles (then Prince of Wales) played by West, the new series will show a number of low points for the royals.
Among them are the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage, the controversial Panorama interview of the late royal and the notorious ‘tampongate’ phone call between the King and Queen Consort.
One of the most controversial aspects of the series is how it will approach Diana’s death, with Netflix facing scrutiny over the decision to recreate Princess Diana’s last days, filming scenes in Paris where she died.
Thoughts: Gillian even states that the Windsors should be grateful, adding, “The whole family is more loved, celebrated and internationally understood in a way than it would be, were it not for the show.”
It followed accusations of callousness amid reports that the show will reenact the Paris car chase that resulted in Diana’s death and scenes of young Princes William and Harry following their mother’s coffin in a future season. The exact moment of the crash will not be shown.
Acting royal Dame Judi Dench, who is close to King Charles and Camilla, accused the show of being “crude and hurtful”.
Dame Judi, 87, who played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, told The Times the series risked damaging the monarchy. The Oscar-winning actress blamed it for “crude sensationalism” and blurring fact and fiction.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major criticized a scene showing him having a conversation with then-Prince Charles about the possibility of the Queen abdicating as “malicious nonsense”.
Not impressed: Acting royal Dame Judi Dench, close to King Charles and Camilla, accused the show of being “crude and hurtful.”
Controversy: One of the most controversial aspects of the series is how it will address the death of Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki
The previous fourth series of the drama was criticized for not doing enough to tell viewers that it was a work of fiction.
The streaming giant was forced by the dispute to add a disclaimer to its season five trailer saying it was a “fictional dramatization…inspired by true events.”
The Crown has been a hit for Netflix since it was first released in 2016 and the main characters are regularly recast to follow the age of the royals in their respective timelines.
Star: The Crown’s fifth season follows Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family during the 1990s, with Imelda playing the late monarch.