The Crown's Claire Foy Declines Autograph Request with Blue Pen: 'No Blue Ink for Me'
The Crown’s Claire Foy, known for her attention to detail, politely declined signing an autograph in NYC when a fan offered a blue pen Her preference for other colors was apparent as she graciously interacted with her admirers
When seeking an autograph from The Crown star Claire Foy, avoid using a blue pen. This unexpected tip was revealed by a disappointed fan who encountered the 39-year-old actress at Rockefeller Center in New York City on Friday, December 15. A widely circulated video captured the Emmy winner politely declining the request while she was accompanied by security.
"I'm sorry, I don't sign with blue," Foy said in the clip. The autograph seeker, taken aback, responded, "What?" Foy reiterated, "I don't sign with blue," as paparazzi snapped her photo. As the British actress continued walking, the surprised fan could be heard groaning, "Oh, come on."
However, shortly after, Foy stopped to sign an autograph for another person who had a black sharpie.
Foy received criticism for disregarding the initial fan. One user expressed, "That is bizarre. No explanation for the cold treatment?" Another fan shared, "I've been a huge fan since her role in the crown, but I was let down by her behavior in this instance."
Other supporters stood up for Foy, arguing that it is easier to forge signatures with blue ink than with black ink, making it more likely to create fake memorabilia.
"Many celebrities and athletes avoid using blue ink to sign autographs because it can be scanned and easily manipulated to create counterfeit items," a fan clarified.
In December 2022, Philadelphia 76ers basketball star Patrick Beverly explained on the "The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone" why he avoids signing autographs with a blue pen. According to Beverly, using a black or gray pen makes it more difficult for people to forge his signature onto other items and sell them.
Foy took on the role of a young Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, and her performance earned her two Emmys, two SAG Awards, and a Golden Globe. The character was then portrayed by Olivia Colman in seasons 3 and 4, and will be played by Imelda Staunton for seasons 5 and 6.
In a recent interview with People, Foy expressed that she has no regrets about her decision to leave the show, despite making occasional guest appearances in the years following her departure. "I have immense respect for the current cast, but for my own well-being, I chose to end my time on the show when I did," Foy explained. "I made peace with it and moved forward, and I believe that was the right choice for me."
Foy has been working as an actor since 2008 and has accumulated more than 30 credits in TV and film. While she is recognized for her role in The Crown, she does not want to be typecast solely based on her portrayal in the Netflix series.
“I don't want to be pigeonholed as Queen Elizabeth,” she stated. “It’s a great compliment that people appreciated that character and associate me with it. But I’m not intentionally trying to distance myself from that.”
Dickie Arbiter, the press secretary for Queen Elizabeth II, was not impressed by the performances of Colman and Staunton. However, he had nothing but praise for Foy's portrayal of his former boss.
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In an interview with Deadline published on Sunday, he described Foy as “brilliant” in the series.
The final episodes of The Crown debuted on Netflix on Thursday, December 14.
