The Crown’s Imelda Staunton has revealed she was “saddened” by The Queen’s death last year, but admits she felt the cast “had to get on” with filming for season six.
The 66-year-old British actress, who plays the late monarch in the hit Netflix series, is currently working on the drama’s final season.
And a few months after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the on-screen Queen has said she feels “very responsible” having to “lead from the front”.
Disclaimer: The Crown’s Imelda Staunton has revealed her heartbreak over The Queen’s death last year, but admits she felt the cast “had to get on” with filming for season six.
speaking to Mirror, Imelda said about the moment the Queen died: ‘We have to raise the bar. I feel very responsible to have to lead from the front.
“You were sad and off course, but you knew we had to carry on.”
Imelda added: “We are all very proud and hope to please the public.”
The actress, who also starred in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as Dolores Umbridge, is up for a Golden Globe next week.
Big show: The 66-year-old British actress, who plays the late monarch on the hit Netflix series, is currently working on the latest season of the drama (pictured with Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Dominic West as Prince Charles)
She’s in line to pick up the gong for Best TV Actress in a Drama Series, but she’s up against House of the Dragon’s Emma D’Arcy, Ozark’s Laura Linney, Hilary Swank’s Alaska Daily and Euphoria’s Zendaya.
Imelda also told the publication that taking on the role of Queen from predecessors Claire Foy and Olivia Colman felt like “a huge responsibility.”
He also explained how he was interested in the Queen’s relationship with Prince Philip, saying that their ability to stay together despite the chaos that surrounds them all their lives is “testament to their strength as individuals.”
The fifth season of The Crown has been the subject of much criticism due to the touchy subject of King Charles and his marriage to Diana.
Star: A few months after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the on-screen Queen has said she feels “very responsible” that she has to “lead from the front.”
Many argued that filming the scenes leading up to Princess Diana’s death in Paris was insensitive, as well as the series continuing its launch shortly after the queen’s death in September last year.
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.
True love: He also explained how the Queen’s relationship with Prince Philip interested him, saying that their ability to stay together despite the chaos that surrounds them all their lives is “testament to their strength as individuals”
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”.
Controversy: One of the most controversial aspects of the series is how it will address the death of Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki
Recently, The Crown star Gillian Anderson, who played Margaret Thatcher in season four, responded to the comments, arguing that the series could have been much more damaging.
Speaking to The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, Gillian said: ‘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 Crown star Gillian Anderson, who played Margaret Thatcher in season four, recently responded to the comments, arguing that the series could have been much more damaging.