The Crown's Elizabeth Debicki 'Didn't Overthink' Playing Princess Diana in 'Clearly Fictional' Show

Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Georges De Keerle/Getty Images Elizabeth Debicki and Princess Diana

Elizabeth Debicki didn't hesitate to play Princess Diana in The Crown.

The 32-year-old Australian actress makes her debut as the late Princess of Wales in season 5 of The Crown, out Wednesday on Netflix. In a new interview with The Guardian, published Saturday, Debicki opened up about the pressure of the role and the controversy that surrounds the show, based on the lives of the British royal family.

Debicki takes the tiara from Emma Corrin, who originated the role of a young Diana in seasons 3 and 4 of the hit drama. She steps into the princess' shoes to move through the 1990s, a turbulent time for the royal family defined by divorce, a disastrous fire at Windsor Castle and a changing U.K.

When asked if she ever doubted tackling the role of Diana through the sensitive era, The Guardian reported that Debicki "firmly" said no.

BACKGRID / SplashNews.com Elizabeth Debicki (center) in The Crown

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"I went off instinct, and I didn't overthink it. I've watched this show and loved it for years," the Tenet star explained. "I knew I was stepping into working with people who were extremely intelligent and very sensitive about how they went about creating the script and making decisions. So I never felt like I'd jumped on unstable ground."

Debicki cited The Crown's extensive research department, Corrin's performance and meticulous scripts from show creator Peter Morgan as her inspiration in framing her most prominent role to date.

The Crown/Netflix

"Suddenly what feels like a vast field of information is very quickly, extremely narrowed down to existing within the framework that Peter [Morgan] has built for you. It was a huge relief," she said of portraying the inimitable princess. "I remember thinking, now my responsibility is to bring to life what he has written, and his interpretation of these events and these people."

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The idea of "interpretation" is essential. Though The Crown has yet to hit queues, Dame Judi Dench made headlines last month for penning an open letter to The Times, demanding that Netflix add a disclaimer to the upcoming season (which features a storyline about King Charles III mulling how to accelerate his accession to the throne) as "cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent."

Pressed as to whether such criticisms make her feel defensive, Debicki said that they did not.

Netflix/YouTube Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in The Crown

"I understand what the show is, and what it's trying to do. I also understand the reaction to it. I think this is a period of time that's been told many times over and will continue to be told, and I know the degree of care and respect people enter into these stories with," she said.

"I mean, it is clearly fictional. I feel like audiences know that, because there are actors, playing parts. I never watched The Crown and thought, this is a documentary, or this is obviously true."

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Keith Bernstein/Netflix, Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

With her star set to shoot into a new echelon, The Great Gatsby alum joked that it might be "weird" if she gets recognized at everyday places like the supermarket after the show comes out.

"Of course there's a part of me that goes, God, will that happen? But then I think the Australian in me is like, well, I dunno, just sit down and have a cup of tea, let's see if anyone watches it.' That self-deprecating Australian thing really bolts you to the ground, which is helpful, in times like these," Debicki deadpanned.

Season 5 of The Crown hits Netflix queues on Wednesday, Nov. 9.