Comparing the 3 Performances of Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown

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It's taken three performances to portray Queen Elizabeth II on "The Crown." In this essay, we’ll be looking at what the three actresses who played the monarch in the Netflix drama brought to the role and what made them each stand out. Our video includes Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, and more! Which Queen Elizabeth II actress if YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments
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#TheCrown #QueenElizabethII #ClaireFoy #OliviaColman #ImeldaStaunton

[@passiveaggressive6175]

I love Claire Foyle’s cameos in S4 & S5

[@Kyolover8]

Same I was glad to see her back in the role for her cameos. I really enjoyed her portrayal as the younger version of Her Majesty

[@MegaAlexis92]

I wonder if Oliva will make a cameo in later seasons

[@shuaibasif2715]

@@MegaAlexis92 later season. Season 6 is the last

[@prismaticmarcus]

@@MegaAlexis92 she's in a painting in s5

[@purrr7519]

@@prismaticmarcus that's not a real cameo . That's a painting

[@brianmcconnell1817]

Claire’s performance remains my favourite. I never experienced the Queen at that age but after watching her performance I feel I have. My only complaint about the show is that we don’t get to see many examples of Elizabeth’s sense of humour. She was very funny and had a healthy attitude toward her position; ie her appearances with Daniel Craig and Paddington the bear.

[@student6415]

Claire Foy is the fan favorite for obvious reasons. She originated the role,was able to make it more her own , and set the high standard that Coleman and Staunton had to meet-which they did spectacularly. Foy also had the gift of time being on her side. Given that the people who watch the show were not alive yet or extremely too young to remember, there’s more room for interpretation and creating the character. I feel Coleman and Staunton had more of the uphill battle. Meaning that when an actor approaches the age of the person they’re playing, there’s going to more critiques and opinions about it.

[@rosemarywhite7026]

Matt Smith as a young Prince Philip was great…..but Tobias Menzies was just brilliant as Prince Philip!! Far too underrated. I loved every scene he was in!!

[@conniestahlkopf7371]

Tobias and Matt were both amazing. didn't like the new actor

[@dinyarjalnawalla8181]

Agree. Matt Smith was best

[@jessicah.1903]

I always wondered of whom Tobias Menzies reminded me of a little when he spoke - I finally got it! Wallace from Wallace and Gromit!! (Just the look of his mouth moving) - no disrespect- but yes, seriously, he portrayed Philip absolutely perfect! Accent and voice on point. Just like the actor who plays Charles in the 5th season.

[@boulevard14]

Jonathan Pryce is amazing as Prince Philip.

[@Wosiewose]

Tobias is my favorite. He came across as the most relatable and human.

[@trinaq]

Claire, Olivia and Imelda did a wonderful job at conveying different aspects of the Queen's personality at different stages of her life. You could believe that they were all the same person, since their respective mannerisms were top notch. 🥰

[@charliedameliodunkinfanpag6462]

Queen..who can play her?as young too beautiful..Helen Mirren was most close to her in time when Di died .wort deserves Oscar...

[@ChaseWright516]

Imelda did not.

[@MarnieGolde7]

I think all three have brought something so fresh but authentic to their roles as the queen during different stages of her life. In my opinion, one of the most unique aspects of this series is that they’ve been able to showcase so many fantastic actors and yet it feels like we’ve been watching the same few people live and age in front of us.

[@kristenbriscoe1]

Claire Foy was my favorite actress to portray Queen Elizabeth. Her physicality and mannerisms were excellent.

[@leont7956]

she definitely has the presence

[@Wosiewose]

I think Claire had the best ability to convey a million different - often conflicting - thoughts and emotions in a very understated way. You could really see the struggle between Elizabeth Mountbatten and Elizabeth Regina.

[@faimamuse1111]

Attitude wise Claire, acting wise Olivia, and resemblance wise Imelda.

[@mgg5418]

I feel Imelda didn’t get a lot of screen time compared to Claire and Olivia. The bulk of series 5 was spent on Charles and Diana. Also I think it was much harder for her because our memories of Queen Elizabeth at that age are so fresh, the comparison is bound to be much stronger than with Claire Foy playing a young Queen. They all did a great job.

[@sherapontaoe3214]

Loved Claire Foy because that Elizabeth was before my time & she was the first on The Crown. They have all been magnificent.

[@denisefreitas6727]

The three actresses are fantastic and they did an amazing job. I love them, but my favorite is Claire Foy.

[@haryettelorrainemakmot4564]

I THINK ALL 3 ACTRESSES... DID A GREAT JOB... THOUGH THE FIRST 2 SEASONS WERE MY FAVORITE...

[@lorimc62lm]

Claire Foy and Matt Smith had a fantastic chemistry between them, and theirs were my favorite portrayals of the Queen and her prince ♥️🤗

[@campin_sasquatch7740]

I think Claire's was the best, especially the dialect 👍 I still think the first two seasons were the best. The casting for those seasons were chef's kiss 👌

[@nancynichol4676]

My thoughts exactly

[@halfdragoness8767]

Hard agree!

[@RashMonroe]

All 4 have done great (you left off the brief stent of Verity Russel as the young Princess) I think Imelda has the toughest job since she’s portraying the queen closest to our time. I’ll be so sad when the series does end.

[@daisysw3147]

Pedant.

[@morganirvine2327]

Ohh im glade to be reminded of verity ill have to watch the episodes with her in it again.

[@sesimessi1157]

Claire Foy without a doubt. They should have just used makeup and aesthetics to age her and it would have worked out fine.

[@lorimc62lm]

That's exactly what I think. I was disappointed to realize they changed the actors after the first two seasons.

[@Devyn89]

They all did amazing but Coleman was my favourite, in large part because of Anderson’s Tatcher performance. The way those two play off each other is incredible.

[@al.n.darodda6183]

Claire by far because she has the most difficult acting job. Simultaneously, she had to show the innocence of youth while rapidly learning her new permanent and final position as Queen

[@electraruby4078]

AI.Ain DaRodda . Well observed!

[@drinksomewaterfirst9704]

Imelda is so underrated … even with the small screen time she really gave it her best especially in the heartbreaking scenes of the struggle with the yacht, margaret, philip and QE. No offense to olivia but imelda is more closer to claire foy’s specially in mannerism. My favorite acting episode of her is probably annus horribilis season 5 while my favorite scene is her with her corgis on the ending of the episode 6.

[@rawrpancake]

Each actress brought something to the table - amazing performances. Honestly, I feel that dialogs between characters in S05 were a bit off in comparison with S01-S04, therefore Imelda couldn't fully shine :).

[@analorenarosabal3639]

Claire was perfect

[@ct6852]

Don't think there is a best performance. All three did amazing.

[@uglybetty8747]

Exactly

[@slicksalmon6948]

Imelda Staunton also has to wrestle with Helen Mirren's excellent portrayal of the Queen at the same age.

[@prathamsaxena9503]

I know Imelda is great actress and now people can remember her as Queen rather than Dolores

[@Kyolover8]

I'm honestly glad of that. I keep seeing articles of people saying they can't see past her playing umbridge but I honestly see her as an older Queen Elizabeth because she looks like her at that point in time. Especially when she wears the glasses.

[@StarryBoi4060]

I was shocked that the queen was portrayed by the same actress, the way she carries herself is so different I totally forgot about Umbrige until this video. A true testament to Imeldas wonderful job!!

[@prathamsaxena9503]

@@StarryBoi4060 I don't know if you are aware or not She was also Rose (from Musical Gypsy) in London Theater and she was phenomenal

[@derlaurenz]

3 stellar performances IMO. Don't get what the fuzz is all about. The show portrays her totally as 'kick-ass'. Dare I say: "Yaaaaas, kweeen." *snap* *snap* *tongue pop*

[@terrywilliford2915]

Loved Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth

[@madman00774]

Claire Foy wins with EASE!

[@magichendrix]

Great show. I’m partial to the first two Queens but the latest one is growing on me.

[@bobl4419]

I have seen so many "series" particularly on the English monarchy (i.e. The Tudors, etc... in which Jonathon Reese Myers did a phenomenal job as King Henry the 8th) however, I have never seen a series like the Crown that has produced so many brilliant actresses and actors from a single series. Claire Foye, Oliver Coleman, Gillian Anderson, John Lithgow and Josh Connor are some of the many who stand-out and who almost literally became the person that they have portrayed. It's amazing when you have so many brilliant actors and actresses in one series. It shows that they wanted to portray their real-life characters, particularly in the Royal family, will the ut-most respect and admiration.

[@LaReinaZorra]

Olivia Coleman*

[@bobl4419]

@@LaReinaZorra extraordinary action extraordinary career Olivia Coleman brilliance

[@fionablaikie6422]

Claire and Olivia were outstanding.

[@williamerazo3921]

I like Staunton performance. She got more emotional and more aware that she’s at her end

[@leont7956]

she lived for another 30 years i don't think so

[@Fusiontasty]

Umbridge and Bella Trix becoming sisters in the crown is major 😂

[@ZakhadWOW]

They werent in same phase, however. Helena was in phase 2 with Olivia

[@k.Angela]

And even if I know it was fan cast, coming from the Marauders fandom shocked me to see young Petunia in 1 too lol. She's young Bellatrix😂😂

[@RussellRusike]

,😂😂😂😂

[@bryandavid1201]

I think each actress brought something the each queen but in my opinion I really do think Olivia column truly knock it out of the park and as for Claire I can't imagine any other actress playing the queen when she was young

[@uglybetty8747]

Yup

[@neilballantyne7077]

Claire is my favorite. The looks she would give, also how innocent she was. The second actress COLEMAN phenomenal. Haven't watched 5th season all the way through yet

[@beqamarsagishvili6988]

Imelda did a brilliant job portraying Queen.

[@morganirvine2327]

Imelda is wonderful and is portraying the Queen at the age we recognize the most as well as after the queens death extra pressure. Im able to see more than Umbridge the other role I know her best from where in good hands.

[@robinpriest2338]

I loved Claire and Olivia as the queen. The first four season cast seem to be more royal than this season. I do not like the dialect this season.

[@132allie]

All three were wonderful. Extraordinary performances.

[@moles4769]

I'd have to give the "crown" to Coleman for her range and the understated humor she brought to the character.

[@HWR_-eb5fm]

I love all three actresses for different reasons, but Claire Foy is indisputably the best.

[@savannahborn4025]

I love Claire Foy's work in "The Crown". Olivia Coleman is just a cool person, I love her as an actress.

[@MsMojo]

We're excited to announce that The WatchMojo Game (wmojo.com/game) is here and available now on Amazon! Canada and UK now in stock! wmojo.com/game_canada wmojo.com/game_uk

[@eleniefremidou5173]

each of them is really amazing!

[@lh5670]

Imelda Staunton is absolutely believeable as an aged Claire Foy. Perhaps it's partly because of the flashbacks. I love Olivia Coleman, but her queen seems somewhat out of step with the other two.

[@ramsaycarmichael]

i agree completely.

[@Davidjimv]

Agreed. Olivia is just horrible

[@MB-ny8dn]

Felt the same…

[@paleobc65]

Same, I love Olivia Coleman but she’s the one who looked the least like the queen

[@Kyolover8]

I agree. Claire was my favorite portrayal and Imelda did great as the older queen. No Offense to Olivia but she threw me off a little.

[@conniestahlkopf7371]

Foy and Coleman were my favorites

[@totallynotme9922]

I love all of them, but Claire is my fav

[@SmartStart24]

I don’t get into the who’s the best Queen debate but Tobias was hands down the best Phillip, Matt in close second!

[@gerardosalazar1442]

all three of them, stellar performances!

[@eszterbajor6835]

In season 1-2 I could believe I saw Queen Elizabeth on the screen. In season 3 and 4 I saw OC playing Queen Elizabeth with great professionalism, but I saw OC on the screen and not QEII. In season 4 IS’s voice and talking was perfect, but I couldn’t step away from the fact that she still looked like Dolores Umbridge.

[@naomidixon4640]

They've all been brilliant but the best Queen is still Claire and the best Philip is Tobias

[@kiaraeijo]

I agree even though Matt Smith did a brilliant job as young Prince Phillip

[@naomidixon4640]

@@kiaraeijo omg VERY close second for me too, his chemistry with Claire was incredible 😍🔥

[@jeep146]

Claire Foy just nailed it. Just imagine if she were the real deal.

[@Alex-ng6hc]

Honestly it's hard to compare these three actresses since they're all very good at what they do. Would you believe that the middle aged Queen was Sophie Chapman? Or that the old Queen is Dolores Umbridge?

[@patstokes7040]

Imelda Staunton is always a great actress. She can play the quirky and ordinary. Making everything she does memorable.

[@tfh5575]

imelda staunton is so gracious and humble. she’s a legend and she praised the other actresses, as well as the queen herself.

[@towerdave4836]

Claire Foy I thought was brilliant. Not quite so convinced by Imelda Staunton and Olivia Colman somewhere in between. All three are superb actors.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Claire was amazing!!!

[@sarlakapadia2132]

I think all three were very good....they have all studied the Queen very well n it was a great great performance by all three...But I liked Claire Foy best as she looked more like Queen Elizabeth n super version of her Majesty....thank you so much for s wonderful educative n true values of Great Britain that were....in bygone years...

[@expensivepink7]

They are all amazing!

[@Sensirie]

At first when Colman came on scene, I never thought I could forget Claire but they compliment each other quite well

[@raecrothers1420]

I thought they were all great, but in all their portrayals was this coldness you also see in Helen Mirren’s interpretation that doesn’t seem like the warm and approachable Queen I saw in her public appearances. Staunton’s Queen is the one I’ve known all my life and I found her acting uncanny at times, but with too-sharp edges that betrayed her. Coleman’s real voice came through too strongly to have her be as convincing (but I still cannot imagine anyone else in the role!). Foy, being a Queen I barely know, felt the most convincing. All three were the actresses that I would’ve cast myself!

[@julieg46]

Olivia Coleman with the Prime Minister and Helena Bonham Carter and President Johnson at the white House telling the dirty limericks will always always be my favorite scene from the Crown.

[@MsPrecious61]

God bless The Queen! May she rest peacefully in God's presence. There was so much placed on her in this life. She was Sovereign and a Parent. That is a lot. I think she did her best. She gave her best. Now, if the next generation of Royals can give their best, at least in her honor!

[@PHDavid2]

I think the Imelda queen didn’t got much time on screen for shining as much as the others

[@delainepep22]

Claire was my fav but Olivia was amazing. Already finished season 5

[@arleciajackson9237]

I would have liked if the powers that be would have aged Claire Foy portrayal of the Queen.

[@lorimc62lm]

I, Without a doubt, agree.

[@lensbaad6069]

All three actors ,women are mind blowing in their performances...the making is intricate and explicit!!!!💕

[@JimMac23]

All three performances were brilliant.

[@mmiller7203]

I must remember that Imelda Staunton is NOT really Delores Umbridge

[@Ramparts2009]

My favorite young Queen,Claire

[@morganirvine2327]

All 3 ladies did a fantastic job Imelda has the situation of season 5 coming after she died as well as portraying an older Elizabeth people recognize more I am enjoying it thoroughly.

[@rockablity_hound1716]

This video should have waited until season 6. The queen wasn’t the main focus of this season. To judge Imelda now would be unfair.

[@Dopesickgypsy]

All 3 are great especially Olivia Coleman she's crazy good. But my favorite will always be Claire Foye she will always be the queen to me

[@Cyberlucy]

There are two scenes from S1 that inform the entire series. The last scene that you showed with the letter and the one at the end of the episode about the fog where Queen Mary drives home that she must become the living embodiment of the Crown in order to maintain the institution. This is what the whole show has been about. How QEII's devotion to duty made her think that was the direction that she had to go and then realizing after the death of Diana that she doesn't always have to be that. That times had changed and sometimes her people wanted her to be Elizabeth Mountbatten.

[@outinsider]

I am sure I will find something to like about all three. I've only seen two. I get the stans for Claire Foy, particularly to a generation who didn't know the early years of her reign, and whom The Crown seasons 1 and 2 provided a worthy education. My millennial generation only knew her as an unemotive figurehead who maintained a heartless institution that victimized Princess Diana. Olivia Colman brought a lot of weight without replicating Claire's performance, and definitely brought her own take on Queen Elizabeth II as only she could. The scene is season 4 where she tells off Josh O'Connor's Prince Charles is literally history speaking through her about Princess Diana. I haven't watched season 5 yet. I am hearing mixed reviews, but I also know that Imelda Staunton will bring her reserved subtle energy to her portrayal. I am not a monarchist in the slightest, and this series definitely does show the nuances and complexities of duty before everything else, and humanizes the figurehead as a person and her class as people. It doesn't mean that the monarchy isn't outdated, it just means heavy is the head that wears The Crown that stunts emotional growth, empathetic understanding of struggle, and leaves mental health causalities for duty's preservation.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

My best friend and I have been watching (all seasons) The Crown on Netflix. He brought up an interesting point. Why didn’t they “age” the original actors (who started out as adults, obviously), rather than having different actors playing Elizabeth, Charles, and Margaret at the three stages portrayed?

[@RaymondHng]

Aging the actors with make up and prosthetic would have increased the budget and the production time. Plus, there wouldn't have been a series final scene with Staunton joined with cameos of Coleman and Foy behind her.

[@Neurosis_Cordis]

Claire Foy is an obvious fan favorite not only because of the great job she did - and she did a wonderful job - but also because of the time period she portrayed. We have this young and enthusiastic but not very experienced woman becoming a head of a declining empire that is still recovering from a devastating war; she’s a beacon of hope, a symbol of unity who is trying to fit in the Monarchy into the rapidly changing society; she’s put in a place where she’s fighting with these old conservative establishment hardliners but at the same time has to find a middle ground with them to preserve the Monarchy; the writers want you to cheer for this young determined woman making headway in her complex position, I mean the first two seasons could’ve might as well been called the Queen instead of the Crown because she was the star of the show, it was pretty much an origin story. Now Olivia Colman portrays a mature queen who has grasped her position and is firmly holding the reins; a true experienced head of state. However, the period she depicts also sets the stage for people and events that will overshadow her, namely the Charles and Diana saga. People were eagerly waiting for S4 to see princess Diana, it’s not all about the Queen any more like in the first two seasons. And poor Imelda Staunton probably had the most difficult ride of the three as Charles’ and Diana’s drama is going full steam ahead and that’s what the main focus is; no one cares for the aging Queen who went from being a beacon of hope in the new world to becoming this aloof conservative symbol of establishment, the likes of which she was going head-to-head with in seasons 1 and 2. She became a supporting character in her own story, someone who’s omnipresent, but kind of not very interesting or even relevant to the plot lines that are far more compelling.

[@gailkruger1414]

All 3 ladies were amazing!

[@sangeetadavidschinaglspeci2684]

The first roll She was the best

[@run2yah4salvation35]

I think the actors did the best in S5 they had to work with and that includes Imelda. The writing just wasn’t there this season. There was so much ground to cover in the 90s and a lot of key things were either glossed over or omitted entirely.

[@theseventhcrow4825]

idk but staunton's performance feels detached to the other two. i love claire foy. she raised the standard and remains the best out of the three.

[@erinsquire2749]

I have one of a surprise queen Elizabeth the second when she was older She was a even lot looking like my grandma on my mom side

[@TheLizKirkland]

Hands down, Claire Foy is the best Queen Elizabeth II for me. 💖

[@albertcanzana794]

They are incomparable.

[@teresacastle8155]

This season 5 has hit it remarkably well with Queen,Duke ,Diana.

[@ruthnaismith519]

Claire Foy was the best by far

[@tinas_hotdog_sophie]

For me it is Claire. Simply because of the accent. Sadly she didn't capture the sweetness of LIzzy's voice in her younger years, but I mean you have a voice and can't just change it, I get that. Otherwise Claire is the best :D

[@electraruby4078]

Clair Foy was supurb. The best.

[@tiffanyi5645]

It’s a toss up between Imelda and Claire…I’m leaning towards Imelda’s amazing performance, but Claire’s magnificence in this role makes it too difficult to decide!

[@cmarq817]

I love Olivia and Imelda but - in this role - Claire Foy was SUPERB !

[@Gotchalaboom]

I think Coleman was too likable and Staunton has the Elizabeth factor (just as Foyle)

[@passiveagressive4983]

Imelda Staunton had the hardest job as she’s portraying the Queen as we know her now. But Claire Foy was amazing performance.

[@ellabautista5091]

I like all 3 of them.

[@adorablegirl1559]

Olivia Coleman makes me like the queen so i love her the most

[@Joanna-il2ur]

My late mum was a very distant relative of Olivia Colman, and I used to live across the road from Meldy Staunton for ten years. Pretty impressive, huh?

[@MariaP1980]

What kind of neighbor was she?

[@Joanna-il2ur]

A bit miserable tbh. Her husband Jim was really nice, and until he was in bigger roles around a lot. Their daughter Bessie Bee was always going off on the back of a tandem with him. Meldy was quite shouty and grumpy. Emma Thompson lives two doors up, and they hung out a lot. Our flat was literally across the quite narrow road from the Carters, and when we sold it, the visibility of stars was a major selling point.

[@MariaP1980]

@@Joanna-il2ur thanks for answering. I thought that she was like that. My friend met her once on the Downton Abbey movie premiere and while all other stars were super nice to my friend when she asked them for photos, Imelda was the only one who was unkind.

[@alexanderh9878]

The 3 of them were great.

[@ray.shoesmith]

ears, marvellous.

[@MonkyDollqueen]

With a new attitude everything can change, make it how you want it to be, staying mad?, why do that...Give yourself a break, laugh about it & you'll see that life what you make it.

[@greyLeicester]

Excuse me?

[@Legacy_Collectables]

Claire & Imelda were fantastic as the Queen, Oliva Colman on the other hand was just Olivia Coleman.

[@maryhageman6224]

It was head up the first one .

[@larhumba4233]

None of them portray the Queen’s humour, but that's more to do with the scripts. Diana also had a great sense of humour and laughed alot. None of it portrayed. But this is all Fiction not Factual.