The Crown’s Colman thrilled to play Queen ‘warts and all’
arts Correspondent
FANS of The Crown have been given their first glimpse of the third series, as Olivia Colman joins the cast to play a middle-aged Queen.
Colman, who follows Claire Foy in the role, is shown drinking tea and eating marmalade on toast at Buckingham Palace.
The makers of the programme shared the image yesterday with a oneword caption of “patience”, suggesting viewers may be in for a long wait before the Netflix drama is released.
Colman has said that she is “thrilled” to be taking over the role of the monarch in the critically acclaimed royal drama.
The second series of the show finished in the setting of 1964, with the third series expected to chart the breakdown of Princess Margaret’s marriage and the arrival of Camilla Parkerbowles.
Helena Bonham Carter will take over from Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret and Tobias Menzies replaces Matt Smith as Prince Philip.
Colman has previously said she will work with the show’s “amazing” voice coach to emulate Foy’s success in capturing the Queen’s pronunciation, saying she empathised with the Royal family for being “human beings”.
“That’s why we are gripped by the story,” she told ITV.
“They look like they’re in a white tower and they’re untouchable, but obviously they have hearts and they bleed. That’s why we love it … It’s warts and all but that’s honest.”
Admitting her own personal politics did not necessarily suggest she was a natural fan of the Royal family, she added: “Being a royalist doesn’t really tie in with everything that I am and believe. But, I do think they’re incredible people.”
The next series of The Crown is expected to be released at the end of the year.