Elizabeth Debicki has been cast as Princess Diana in the final two seasons of Netflix’s series “The Crown.” The news was announced on Twitter via the series’ official account today. “Princess Diana’s spirit, her words, and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honor to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one,” Debicki said in the social announcement.
Debicki is riding high these days, bagging the female lead in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming “Tenet” blockbuster.
READ MORE: ‘The Crown’ Will Take An Extended Filming Hiatus With Season 5 Coming In 2022
Debicki has recently appeared in the indies “The Burnt Orange Heresy” and “Vita and Virginia,” but has made her way to breakout stardom through roles in “The Great Gatsby,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and Steve McQueen‘s “Widows” in 2018. She also garnered major acclaim alongside Tom Hiddleston in AMC’s Emmy-nominated limited series “The Night Manager.”
Fun fact: “Lovecraft Country” is all the rage on HBO right now, but Debicki was originally cast in the role that Abby Lee eventually took over. The news follows the announcement of Academy Award-nominated actor Jonathan Pryce joining the cast as Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Alongside Pryce and Debicki, Imelda Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth in the two seasons, originally played by Claire Foy in the first two season and then Olivia Colman on season three. Princess Margaret will be played by Lesley Manville in seasons five and six, following turns by Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham-Carter.
Created by screenwriter Peter Morgan (“The Queen”), Netflix’s “The Crown” has followed the royal family through several time periods, starting in the late 1940s and early 1950s with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s marriage and early careers. Obviously, with the addition of Princess Diana, the Crown will work its way up through the 1980s and presumably 90s. It’s unclear if her death in 1997 will be tackled. “The Crown” will be taking a break and Season five won’t premiere until sometime in 2022.