‘The Crown’ Behind-the-Scenes Photos To Get Fans Excited for Season 4
The Crown is back with more from the British royal family. New episodes of the series are set to premiere Nov. 15, 2020, on Netflix. The Crown Season 4 means the introduction of Princess Diana played by Emma Corrin and Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher. Take a look back at behind-the-scenes photos from past episodes before the award-winning program’s much-anticipated return.
Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown’ Season 2
The first actor to take on the role of Queen Elizabeth II was Claire Foy. She played the part for two seasons of The Crown before Olivia Colman stepped in to play an older version of the queen.
During The Crown Season 2 Episode 1: “Misadventure,” Foy got her hair and makeup touched up in between scenes. This particular episode focused on the Suez Canal and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Matt Smith) heading off on a long royal tour. Meanwhile, the queen discovered the prime minister had been keeping a secret from her.
Later on, as Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) raced to get married before her former beau in The Crown Season 2 Episode 7: “Matrimonium,” the queen announces her second pregnancy. Foy prepared to film a scene wearing the queen’s signature strand of pearls.
Foy’s performance won her multiple awards. Although when she first started The Crown she had second thoughts. Foy thought she’d made a mistake because she’d just given birth when filming began.
“On the first day of filming, I found myself halfway up a Scottish mountain with engorged boobs and no way of getting down to feed my baby,” she told British Vogue in 2017.
“I had to ring my husband and tell him to give her formula … as I sat in a Land Rover trying to get my broken breast pump to work, I felt I’d made the worst mistake of my life,” she said.
Foy went on to win a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for The Crown. Her time on the series isn’t exactly over. She’s expected to return as queen during flashbacks in season 4.
Matt Smith as Prince Philip in ‘The Crown’ Season 2
Before Tobias Menzies played the role of Philip Matt Smith did. Smith played the Duke of Edinburgh for two seasons opposite Foy. And, according to The Crown creator, Peter Morgan, he was the only person for the part.
He felt there wouldn’t be a show without Smith. As a result, he overpaid the actor for the job. That later led to reports he earned more than Foy, the lead.
“I’m afraid I gave them no negotiating position,” Morgan told Variety in 2016. “I’m sure Matt’s being hideously overpaid as a result. He was the only one.”
In The Crown Season 2, Smith’s character experienced some marriage woes. The season opened with him and the queen arguing on a ship while reports swirled of them being on the outs.
The Crown Season 2 Episode 2: “A Company of Men” took a closer look at Philip’s royal tour. He and the queen barely spoke while he continued exploring the far reaches of the globe and opening the Olympic Games in Australia.
Watch The Crown Seasons 1-3 on Netflix before new episodes debut on Nov. 15, 2020.
