London: The new cast of The Crown premiered the upcoming season of the hit Netflix series on Tuesday, stressing to viewers that it’s a drama and doesn’t need a disclaimer for its fictional storylines.
The award-winning show, which follows the reign of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, returns for a fifth season on Wednesday, portraying the royal family in the 1990s as they grapple with marital problems, public discord and Windsor. The castle had suffered a fire.
He has drawn criticism and demanded a retraction of his dramatic stories. Some commentators have expressed concern over its airing just two months after Elizabeth’s death and the impact it would have on the reign of her son Charles. Netflix describes The Crown as a “fictional drama” inspired by true events.
“Everyone has seen The Crown for four seasons, it hasn’t bothered them before,” actor Imelda Staunton, who played Elizabeth in season five, told JEE News. “I think the audience will be relieved just to spend time with these people again.”
Staunton was filming season six when Elizabeth died. “I was invincible that night and it surprised me… I thought ‘well I’ve been living with him so closely for two and a half years’… (seeing) people to see him. Lined up, that’s what it was. Moving.”
New plotlines include Charles’ divorce from the late Princess Diana and his intimate conversation with Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now his wife.
“It’s a time in his life that was not only the most important time of his life, but in many ways the hardest time of his life,” said actor Dominic West, who plays Charles. “I felt a lot of sympathy and empathy for him, and it’s been a challenge and a joy to play him… I don’t think (a fifth season) is flattering but I think it’s appropriate.”
Olivia Williams, who plays Camilla, said: “It was a very difficult time for her and I wanted to do her justice.”
Critics gave mixed reviews to the fifth season, but most praised actress Elizabeth Debicki’s portrayal of Diana. “When you join The Crown… there’s a huge amount of archive footage available to you, so I said that about preparing for the role.”
