Historical dramas have long captivated audiences with their intricate storytelling and attention to detail. Among these, The Crown stands out as one of the most authentic TV shows when it comes to charting the history of the British Royal Family. A significant part of its success lies in its impeccable casting, overseen by longtime casting director Rovert Sterne, who stood by series creator Peter Morgan’s side throughout the show’s run.
The Crown
- Release Date
- November 4, 2016
- Seasons
- 6
The Crown offers a glimpse into the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, covering crucial events and personal moments from her life and the lives of those around her from her marriage in 1947 to present day. The sixth season dealt with one of the most tumultuous decades of the Queen’s reign; the 1990s. The period included the tragic death of Princess Diana and the childhood years of Prince William and Prince Harry. Despite the series’ conclusion, Sterne revealed to Variety that he still received requests from aspiring actors eager to portray Meghan Markle in “the next season.”
“I still get letters saying, ‘Please, can I be Meghan Markle? And I think, ‘Well, the moment’s gone.’”
Robert Sterne On Casting New And Familiar Faces
Robert Sterne also discussed that the casting process for The Crown began long before the cameras started rolling. With such a massive production portraying real historical figures, finding the perfect actor to inhabit the “characters” was an enormous responsibility that required thorough research and a commitment to historical accuracy.
One of the unique aspects of The Crown was the decision to constantly change the cast instead of relying on makeup to age the actors. This approach allowed the series to portray the characters realistically at various stages of their lives. Queen Elizabeth II was played by Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton, each of them bringing their own interpretation to the role. Talking about the process, and how Foy had the “difficult job” of setting the tone for the entire series, Sterne said:
“It started with us sitting around a table talking about it, and now here we are. We were discussing how it was going to work, the idea of casting it again every two years. I think it was better than using ever-increasing layers of makeup. It was, in many ways, an experiment…
I have to say, I think Claire had the most difficult job of everybody on the whole project, because I think she had to define the acting tone of the whole endeavor, and that’s no mean task. And I think that what she managed to achieve was very special. What Claire did was made everybody kind of fall in love with that character and be totally engrossed by it and just her stillness and her every thought, she made that unknowable person very accessible.”
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Even though The Crown reached its conclusion last year, it has left an enduring impression on television by bringing the inner workings and scandals of the royal household so vividly to the screen. The series has already won numerous awards, and is looking to add to its 21 Emmys at this year’s ceremony. The sixth season is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, and stars Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Jonathan Pryce, Elizabeth Debicki, and Lesley Manville are all nominated in acting categories.