ERIN DOHERTY
28, actor
Just four years out of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, the Crawley-born actor mesmerised us all with her mischievous and formidable portrayal of Princess Anne in Netflix’s big budget series The Crown.
When Mum and Dad split, they put me in drama school.
Me and my sister lived for those drama classes. Growing up, I was never good at academics, so acting was a lifeline.
Dad made me choose between football and drama at age 13.
I’d been scouted to play for Chelsea, but my dad spent every weekend driving me to football matches and drama classes, so I had to pick – and there was no question.
The hardest thing about The Crown is not being a fangirl.
I want to tell my co-stars, such as Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, how they’ve inspired me, but I’m there to work.
I listened to Princess Anne’s voice on repeat to prepare.
You can learn so much about someone by the way they hold their voice. I think because she felt so suppressed, trying to be this princess everyone wanted her to be, it resulted in this restrained, forced vocal display, which was fascinating to imitate.
Olivia Colman said not to get used to this. It was our first day of filming The Crown and I think she wanted me to know that every job isn’t as amazing as this one. It really informed how I’ve taken everything in.
I’d love to work with Cate Blanchett. She is my pinnacle, especially after watching Mrs America. I only want to do work that’s not been done before, that pushes me to up my game.