The Crown Queen Elizabeth II Actresses, Ranked by Her Majesty's Former Secretary
In fact, it's hard to not see eye to eye with him on this.
It's been almost a week since the release of the second part of The Crown's sixth season, and the show is now effectively over. The beloved Netflix drama has been a fan favorite since its premiere in 2016. What's more, The Crown is arguably the streaming service's most recognizable show, with a huge popularity among audiences around the world.
Following a fictionalized version of the British royal family, The Crown focuses primarily on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, chronicling the pivotal moments in the history of the Windsors and the world the late monarch was a part of.
Throughout the show's six-season run, Her Majesty has been portrayed by three immensely talented actresses - Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton - who have captured different sides of the Queen's character. While The Crown's Elizabeth II was a fictionalized character, many people wonder how much truth there was to the actresses' performances. Fortunately, Elizabeth II's former secretary, who worked with the monarch for several decades, has a lot to say.
Here's Dickie Arbeiter's assessment of Foy, Colman and Staunton's performances as Queen Elizabeth II.
3. Imelda Staunton
As the former secretary who has worked most closely with the Queen in recent decades, it's no surprise that he's been the most critical of The Crown's recent seasons and cast. For this reason, Imelda Staunton, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in her later years, was Dickie Arbeiter's least favorite actress, who he says delivered an overly somber version of the late monarch.
'I don't remember her [Majesty] being glum and boring. Glum if there was a death in the family or one of the dogs had to be put down, but she [Imelda Staunton] was playing glum and boring right the way through,' the former secretary shared in an interview.
2. Olivia Colman
Interestingly, Mr. Arbeiter had similar criticism for Olivia Colman's performance. According to Her Majesty's former secretary, the actress delivered a one-note version of the Queen, devoid of the joy and humor for which the late monarch was famous.
1. Claire Foy
The best actress to play Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown is Claire Foy, who captured the monarch before her ascension to the throne and during her first years as British sovereign. According to Dickie Arbeiter, the actress' performance was 'brilliant' and did Her Majesty a great service.
Source: Deadline.