Over five seasons, The Crown has illustrated, in sumptuous detail, British history, from the twilight days of empire to the revolution of New Labour. Royals through the decades, as well as our most revered and reviled politicians, foreign dignitaries and society celebrities, have been brought to life by Peter Morgan, the show’s creator. And he, along with his casting team of Nina Gold and Robert Sterne, have also faced the unique challenge of casting the same characters at different milestones. Three Elizabeths, three Philips, three Margarets.
As The Crown returns for its final season, it’s time to look back over the many performances that have added stardust to the show. Who nailed their impersonation? Who stole scenes they were barely in? And who was hammier than a slice of gammon? Dealing with the least convincing first, and making our way up to the most magnetic, here are the 30 performances that have defined The Crown so far.
30. John Lithgow as Winston Churchill
Sandwiched in the public consciousness between turns by Timothy Spall (The King’s Speech) and Gary Oldman (The Darkest Hour), Lithgow’s outing as Winston Churchill is easily forgotten. That might be for the best, as he’s one of the weaker links in the show’s opening season. The fact that Churchill was half American doesn’t excuse the failure to fully ditch the Yank accent, which is particularly frustrating given that Churchill’s voice is one of the most recognisable, and quintessentially British, of the 20th century.
The look: 5 out of 10
The voice: 3 out of 10
The mannerisms: 6 out of 10
Watchability: 5 out of 10
Overall score: 19
29. Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip
Other than both being “old” and “men”, I’m not sure there’s much physical similarity between Jonathan Pryce and the late Prince Philip (certainly both Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies are closer fits). But Pryce continues the well-trodden weariness of the Queen’s consort, bringing the same hangdog gravitas he brought to Pope Francis in The Two Popes. The electricity of a provocateur crackles less intensely now though, after decades of marriage, and the character has become rather ho-hum.
The look: 4 out of 10
The voice: 6 out of 10
The mannerisms: 5 out of 10
Watchability: 4 out of 10
Bailey in ‘The Crown’
Overall score: 19
28. Marion Bailey as the Queen Mother
Victoria Hamilton, the first actress to inhabit mummy’s mummy, has proven a more popular choice with viewers than Marion Bailey, who continued the role into the second chapter. The issue here is something particular to The Crown’s casting choices: a lack of continuity between the actresses. The Queen Mother, a know-it-all interloper in scenes involving her more interesting descendants, perpetually runs the risk of becoming an irritant, but with Bailey the problem was most acute.
The look: 5 out of 10
Pryce in ‘The Crown’
Carvel in ‘The Crown’
