This Crown Actress Revealed How Queen Elizabeth II’s Death ‘Weirdly’ Played Into Their Final Season of Filming

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.

While the royal familymay not agree with their depiction in Netflix’s series, The Crown, the cast members felt deeply tied to the loss of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The show was in the midst of filming its sixth and final season when the news broke about her passing — and somehow their shooting schedule aligned with the palace’s 10-day period of mourning. 

Imelda Staunton, who played Elizabeth in the final two seasons, revealed the eerie coincidence in The Crown‘s calendar. She shared the story on the Friday, Dec. 15 episode of The Graham Norton Show, explaining, “Lesley Manville, who plays Princess Margaret, and myself were filming, and at lunchtime, we were told we might hear some sad news [about Queen Elizabeth II].” 

The cast was given the option to “carry on” or go home, but they chose to finish out their scenes. “So, we finished the day, and you go home, and then, as we all found out at about 6 o’clock [on the] news, [Elizabeth had died],” she continued. “And then, weirdly, in the schedule, I had 10 days off, which was the 10 days of mourning.”

Even though the series was the Hollywood version of life at the palace, Staunton admitted to feeling deeply connected to the late monarch. She found herself “inconsolable” after hearing the sad news. “I would have, of course, been sad, but obviously, I think I was fueled by living with her for so long,” she explained. The 67-year-old actress didn’t participate in any of the memorial events, choosing to stay away from being overwhelmed by the global coverage. 

The Crown cast returned to work the day after the funeral, but it was still a hard pill to swallow. “I think it was very difficult for people looking at me,” Staunton noted. “I got my head around it, got dressed, but then, we had a lot of [extras] in that day, and then ‘the shape’ walked on. And I think, for them, it was quite hard.” What a legacy Queen Elizabeth left behind, even on the set of The Crown.

Before you go, click here to see the best photos of Queen Elizabeth II before she was queen.