Imelda Staunton is ‘frightened’ to play Queen Elizabeth in The Crown

‘It’s an extra challenge’: The Crown’s Imelda Staunton is ‘frightened’ to play a recent version of Queen Elizabeth because viewers will be more critical

Imelda Staunton has admitted she is ‘frightened’ to take on the Queen Elizabeth role in The Crown.

The 65-year-old actress is following on from Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, but says she has an ‘extra challenge’ playing a recent version as it will be fresh in the audiences mind. 

The final two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family‘s history throughout the 1990s and into 2003. 

Frightened: Imelda Staunton has admitted she is ‘frightened’ to take on the Queen Elizabeth role in The Crown as she has an ‘extra challenge’ playing a recent version of the monarch 

Speaking to The Sun, Imelda said:  ‘When Claire was in the first series, to all of us that felt like history. Then following on from that with Olivia, again it seems like history. 

‘Now we start in 1991 playing someone much more recent. That’s the extra challenge I have, people saying, “Oh, I don’t think she’s like that at all”‘. 

Admitting that she hopes Queen Elizabeth doesn’t tune in to watch her performance, Imelda added: ‘It’s not like a part I can put a spin on. My preparation has to be everything. 

‘It has to be watching her, reading about the past. I have to sit in my room getting frightened thinking, “I can’t do it, I can’t do it” and then say to yourself, “Yes you can” and get on with it.’

Flashback: The final two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family's history throughout the 1990s and into 2003 (pictured: Queen Elizabeth on a state visit to Seoul in 1999)

Flashback: The final two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family’s history throughout the 1990s and into 2003 (pictured: Queen Elizabeth on a state visit to Seoul in 1999) 

Production for season 5 will begin in June and it is not yet clear what events the series will chose to follow. 

There are several poignant moments during the decade, which include the Queen making a speech on her 40th anniversary of her accession in 1992, in which she called the year an ‘annus horriblis’.  

She was referring to the breakdown of three of her children’s marriages; Prince Andrew, Princess Anne’s and Prince Charles’ divorce from Princess Diana.

Other noteable events during the time period included a fire at Windsor Castle, her golden wedding anniversary in 1997, and the deaths of Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and the Princess of Wales.

Although Imelda is replacing Olivia as the Queen for the final two seasons, Olivia has insisted she ‘wouldn’t dare offer’ any advice.

The Oscar-winning actress said recently: ‘I haven’t spoken to Imelda and I wouldn’t dare offer any advice about playing the Queen. 

‘Imelda is extraordinary and she’s going to do it all much better than me. I can’t wait to watch what she does.’

Big shoes to fill: The 65-year-old actress is following on from Claire Foy who played the monarch for seasons one and two

Big shoes to fill: Olivia Colman starred in season three and four

Big shoes to fill: The 65-year-old actress is following on from Claire Foy (left) who played the monarch for seasons one and two and Olivia Colman who starred in season three and four

Alongside Imelda, Jonathan Pryce, 73, will take over the role of Prince Philip, and Lesley Manville, 64, has been cast as Princess Margaret. 

Netflix are yet to announce who will take over from Josh O’Connor playing Prince Charles in the upcoming two final series. 

Season four of the hit Netflix show proved to be controversial after the show fabricated a string of controversial incidents. 

Imelda Staunton appearing in Downton Abbey

Honest: Imelda (pictured in Downton Abbey) hopes Queen Elizabeth won’t watch her, admitting, ‘It’s not like a part I can put a spin on. My preparation has to be everything’