Imelda Staunton Reflects on Challenging Experience Filming Season 6 of 'The Crown' Following Queen Elizabeth II's Passing
Imelda Staunton reveals the emotional challenges she faced while shooting season 6 of 'The Crown' following the heartbreaking news of Queen Elizabeth II's passing Experience the behind-the-scenes hardships of filming in the wake of a royal icon's death
Imelda Staunton found the filming of The Crown’s sixth and final season to be a bittersweet experience, especially when news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death reached the set.
During filming with Lesley Manville, who portrays Princess Margaret, we received news at lunch that we might hear some sad news about Queen Elizabeth II," Staunton, 67, shared during the December 15 episode of The Graham Norton Show. When asked if she wanted to stop or continue filming, Staunton chose the latter. "We completed the day and when we all found out the news at around 6 o'clock, strangely, I had 10 days off, which coincided with the 10 days of mourning."
After playing the late monarch on the Netflix drama from season 5, Staunton was devastated by Elizabeth's death on September 8, 2022. "I would have been sad regardless, but I was deeply affected after living with her character for so long," she said.
Taking a 10-day break, Staunton avoided news coverage except for Elizabeth's funeral on September 19, 2022. She resumed filming the series the day after the funeral.
Staunton shared, "I believe it was quite challenging for people to see me. I managed to compose myself, got dressed, but then, we had a lot of [extras] that day, and then 'the shape' appeared. I think it was quite difficult for them."
Netflix
After Elizabeth's death last year, Netflix announced a pause in production for season 6 as a mark of respect. Show creator Peter Morgan told Deadline, "The Crown is a love letter to her and I've nothing to add for now, just silence and respect."
The second half of The Crown season 6, which premiered on Thursday, December 14, delves into more recent events in the British royal family's history, such as Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton's first meeting and King Charles III and Queen Camilla's 2005 wedding.
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Executive producer Suzanne Mackie recently shared that the show never planned to extend beyond the year 2005, citing Peter's desire to end the series around the time of Camilla and Charles' wedding. She described the conclusion as a rather fairy tale ending where peace is restored to the land. The series finale also honors Elizabeth's legacy by featuring all three actresses who have portrayed her on The Crown, with Claire Foy and Olivia Colman's versions standing behind Staunton's Elizabeth after Charles and Camilla's wedding celebration.
