See How the Cast of 'The Crown' Compares to the Real-Life Royals

Alexandra Hurtado
·4 min read
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When it comes to casting, The Crown takes well, the crown. Unlike most shows that hold on to their lead actors, Peter Morgan's hit Netflix series, which won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series in 2018 and 2021, has recast its stars not once but several times over the course of its six-season run.

“Not only are we casting real-life characters, but as we get closer to the present day, many of these people are very much alive," The Crown's casting director Nina Gold told Vanity Fair in 2018. "So we have to honor them by picking the right actor to play them—while making a link between the actors who played these characters in the first seasons."

The critically acclaimed series most recently changed up its cast in Season 5, replacing (among others) Olivia Colman, who won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, with Imelda Staunton, and Emma Corrin, who won an Emmy for her turn as Princess Diana, with Elizabeth Debicki. Both actresses have reprised their roles for Season 6, which premiered its first four episodes on Nov. 16.

Scroll down to see how the cast of The Crown compares to the real royals they play.

Related: All About 'The Crown' Season 6 

<p>Anwar Hussein/Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Imelda Staunton</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Anwar Hussein/Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Imelda Staunton in Seasons 5 and 6.

<p>Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Dominic West</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Dominic West in Seasons 5 and 6.

<p>Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Elizabeth Debicki</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p><p><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/did-princess-diana-die-truth-124957393.html" data-ylk="slk:How Did Princess Diana Die? The Truth About the Heartbreaking Crash That Took the Life of the People's Princess;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">How Did Princess Diana Die? The Truth About the Heartbreaking Crash That Took the Life of the People's Princess</a></strong></p>
<p>Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Netflix.</p><p>Played by <strong>Lesley Manville</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Netflix.

Played by Lesley Manville in Seasons 5 and 6.

<p>Martin Keene/PA Images via Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Olivia Williams</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Martin Keene/PA Images via Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Olivia Williams in Seasons 5 and 6.

<p>Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Jonathan Pryce</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Jonathan Pryce in Seasons 5 and 6.

<p>Photo by Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images; Netflix / LeftBank</p><p>Played by <strong>Bertie Carvel</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Photo by Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images; Netflix / LeftBank

Played by Bertie Carvel in Seasons 5 and 6.

<p>Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images; Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Khalid Abdalla</strong> in Season 5 and 6.</p>

Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images; Netflix

Played by Khalid Abdalla in Season 5 and 6.

<p>Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Keith Bernstein/Netflix</p><p>Prince William at the time of his mother's death is played by <strong>Rufus Kampa </strong>Season 6, Part 1.</p>

Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Keith Bernstein/Netflix

Prince William at the time of his mother's death is played by Rufus Kampa Season 6, Part 1.

<p>Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Keith Bernstein/Netflix</p><p>Prince Harry at the time of his mother's death is played by <strong>Fflyn Edwards </strong>in Season 6, Part 1.</p>

Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Keith Bernstein/Netflix

Prince Harry at the time of his mother's death is played by Fflyn Edwards in Season 6, Part 1.

<p>Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Justin Downing</p><p>Prince William in his college years is played by <strong>Ed McVey</strong> in Season 6, Part 2.</p>

Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images; Justin Downing

Prince William in his college years is played by Ed McVey in Season 6, Part 2.

<p>Photo by Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images; Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images</p><p>Prince Harry in the years after his mother's deat is played by <strong>Luther Ford </strong>in Season 6, Part 2. (Ford is shown here out of character.)</p>

Photo by Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images; Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Prince Harry in the years after his mother's deat is played by Luther Ford in Season 6, Part 2. (Ford is shown here out of character.)

<p>Played by <strong>Meg Bellamy</strong> in Season 6, Part 2.</p>

Played by Meg Bellamy in Season 6, Part 2.

<p>Tom Wargacki/WireImage / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Senan West</strong> in Season 5</p>

Tom Wargacki/WireImage / Netflix

Played by Senan West in Season 5

<p>Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Will Powell</strong> in Season 5.</p>

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Will Powell in Season 5.

<p>Chris Jackson/Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Natascha McElhone</strong> in Season 5.</p>

Chris Jackson/Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Natascha McElhone in Season 5.

<p>Tom Stoddart Archive/Getty Images / Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Jonny Lee Miller</strong> in Season 5.</p>

Tom Stoddart Archive/Getty Images / Netflix

Played by Jonny Lee Miller in Season 5.

<p>Played by <strong>Olivia Colman</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Olivia Colman in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by<strong> Claire Foy</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Claire Foy in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Tobias Menzies</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Tobias Menzies in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Matt Smith</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Matt Smith in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Emma Corrin</strong> in Season 4.</p>

Played by Emma Corrin in Season 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Josh O'Connor</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Josh O'Connor in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Julian Baring</strong> in Season 2.</p>

Played by Julian Baring in Season 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Erin Doherty</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Erin Doherty in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Emerald Fennell</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Emerald Fennell in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Helena Bonham Carter</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Helena Bonham Carter in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Vanessa Kirby</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Vanessa Kirby in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Marion Bailey</strong> in Seasons 3 and 4.</p>

Played by Marion Bailey in Seasons 3 and 4.

<p>Played by <strong>Victoria Hamilton</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Victoria Hamilton in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Jared Harris</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Jared Harris in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Derek Jacobi</strong> and <strong>Geraldine Chaplin</strong> in Season 3.</p>

Played by Derek Jacobi and Geraldine Chaplin in Season 3.

<p>Played by <strong>Alex Jennings</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Alex Jennings in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by<strong> Lia Williams</strong> in Seasons 1 and 2.</p>

Played by Lia Williams in Seasons 1 and 2.

<p>Played by<strong> Ben Daniels</strong> in Season 3.</p>

Played by Ben Daniels in Season 3.

<p>Played by<strong> Matthew Goode</strong> in Season 2.</p>

Played by Matthew Goode in Season 2.

<p>Played by <strong>Gillian Anderson</strong> in Season 4.</p>

Played by Gillian Anderson in Season 4.

<p>Played by <strong>John Lithgow</strong> in Seasons 1, 2 and 3.</p>

Played by John Lithgow in Seasons 1, 2 and 3.

<p>Photo credit should read SHAUN CURRY/AFP via Getty Images; Netflix</p><p>Played by <strong>Salim Daw</strong> in Seasons 5 and 6.</p>

Photo credit should read SHAUN CURRY/AFP via Getty Images; Netflix

Played by Salim Daw in Seasons 5 and 6.

Next, How to Watch 'The Crown' Season 6