Following the confirmation that Harry Potter alum Imelda Staunton will officially be succeeding Oscar winner Olivia Colman for the role of Queen Elizabeth II in the forthcoming The Crown Season 5, Netflix has now made a new casting announcement with Oscar nominee Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) signing on to portray Princess Margaret in the final season of the award-winning drama.
“I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret,” Manville said in statement. “The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down. Furthermore to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy.”
The fan-favorite role was first played by Vanessa Kirby in the first two seasons and is currently being portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter in the latest third season and upcoming fourth season. For their impressive performances, both Kirby and Bonham Carter had earned an Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress, respectively.
RELATED: Netflix’s The Crown Season 4 Wraps Production Early
The third season of The Crown saw the entire cast aging up, including Tobias Menzies taking over for Matt Smith who played Prince Philip during the first two seasons. Prince Charles and Princess Anne will also grow older with Josh O’Connor and Erin Doherty filling in those roles. Gillian Anderson will play Margaret Thatcher with Emerald Fennell portraying Camilla Parker Bowles.
Season three of The Crown took place during 1964 and 1972 and is covering major events in British history, like Princess Margaret’s affair with Roddy Llewellyn, Margaret Thatcher’s political rise, and the introduction of Camilla Parker Bowles. Both Seasons 3 and 4 of the series will be shot back-to-back.
RELATED: The Crown Season 4: Claire Foy Returning For a Flashback Scene
The series tells the inside story of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, as the fragile social order established after the Second World War breaks apart. Based on the award-winning play, “The Audience,” the series reunites creator/writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) with director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) and producer Andy Harries (The Queen).
Seasons 1-3 of The Crown are already available for streaming on Netflix.
