Olivia Colman to take The Crown in Netflix drama: Actress will replace Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II

The BAFTA winning actress will take over the reign for series three and four
Emma Powell28 October 2017
The Weekender

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Olivia Colman will step in to Claire Foy’s shoes to play Queen Elizabeth II in royal drama, The Crown.

The BAFTA award winning actress will take over from Foy for the third and fourth instalments of the popular Netflix series, which will follow the life of Her Majesty from the 1960s onwards.

She is due to begin filming next year with her first scenes scheduled to air in 2019.

It will mark Colman's third royal role after playing the present Queen’s mother in Hyde Park On Hudson and Queen Anne in The Favourite.

Leading lady: Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and Matt Smith as Prince Philip
Netflix

It’s not yet been confirmed who will take over from Matt Smith in the role of Prince Phillip.

Earlier this year Foy said she was excited at the prospect of sitting back and watching another cast take over the reins, telling The Hollywood Reporter that she won’t be “bitter”.

She said: “I'm quite philosophical about these things, and I think the amazing thing about the show is the fact that it will go on and that it hasn't ended badly. It'll go on and have another life.

End of the road: Claire Foy plays a pregnant Elizabeth in series two
Netflix

“I can't wait to watch it, and I just think whoever they get to play that part, they'll be extraordinary. I will never watch it with any sense of bitterness or regret. I will feel what I will feel now, which is so happy and lucky for the experience.”

The second series will welcome a host of new faces including Michael C Hall as President John F Kennedy and Jodi Balfour as his wife Jackie Kennedy as well as Matthew Goode in the role of Lord Snowdon.

It will follow Her Majesty from 1956-64 as she welcomes her sons, Princes Andrew and Edward, deals with an illegal war in Egypt, and witnesses the downfall of her third Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan.

Penned by Peter Morgan, The Crown became the most expensive TV series of all time, with its first season costing $130m (£101.5m) to produce.

It was honoured with a haul of gongs across the pond, including Golden Globe and SAG awards for Best Actress and Best TV series, but it failed to scoop a BAFTA TV award at this year's ceremony.

The Crown premiere

1/12

The Crown returns to Netflix on December 8.

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