Queen Elizabeth Just Bestowed a Rare Honor on The Crown Actress Olivia Colman
Ahead of her performance as Queen Elizabeth in the third season of The Crown, actress Olivia Colman has received a rare royal commendation from the British monarch.
Colman, who is well-known for her roles on Fleabag and Broadchurch andmost recently won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite, appeared on the annual Queen’s birthday honors list for her services to drama. She was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, and was given the award under her real name, Sarah Sinclair.
According to the BBC, more than 1,000 names appeared on this year's list of birthday honors, some-like Colman, TV presenter Bear Grylls, musician Elvis Costello, and author Lee Child-more recognizable than others.
“I’m totally thrilled, delighted and humbled to be in the company of these incredible people, most of whom have been nowhere near as visible as I have, but should be–and hopefully now will be," Colman said of her fellow recipients in a statement. "It’s such an honour."
Later this year, Colman will appear on screen as a young Elizabeth II. Peter Morgan, who serves as the showrunner for The Crown, is famously replacing the entire cast for the show's third season, with Colman stepping in to Claire Foy's shoes to play the Queen in seasons three and four.
"I'm so thrilled to be part of The Crown," Colman said in a statement, following the announcement of her casting.
"I was utterly gripped watching it. A proper 'just one more' feeling. I think Claire Foy is an absolute genius. She's an incredibly hard act to follow. I'm basically going to rewatch every episode and copy her!"
The show is currently in production, and while Netflix has yet to announce a premiere date, the streaming service has confirmed it will air at some point in the second half of 2019. While there have been rumors that Queen has watched (and liked!) the show, the royal family has yet to confirm whether or not she's a fan.
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