Comparing the 3 Performances of Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown

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... wmojo.com/game_uk
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
Watch more great "The Crown" videos here:
10 Reasons the Royal Family is Worried About The Crown Season 5 - • 10 Reasons the Royal F...
Top 10 The Crown Episodes to Rewatch - • Top 10 The Crown Episo...
Top 10 Behind the Scenes Secrets About The Crown - • Top 10 Behind the Scen...
Have Your Idea Become A Video!
wmojo.com/msmo...
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/msmo...
MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@kristenbriscoe1]

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

[@leont7956]

she definitely has the presence

[@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.

[@faimamuse1111]

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

[@sherapontaoe3214]

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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@savannahborn4025]

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

[@HWR_-eb5fm]

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

[@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]

,😂😂😂😂

[@terrywilliford2915]

Loved Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@madman00774]

Claire Foy wins with EASE!

[@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!

[@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

[@totallynotme9922]

I love all of them, but Claire is my fav

[@magichendrix]

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

[@moles4769]

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

[@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.

[@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...

[@132allie]

All three were wonderful. Extraordinary performances.

[@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.

[@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 😍🔥

[@eleniefremidou5173]

each of them is really amazing!

[@gerardosalazar1442]

all three of them, stellar performances!

[@tfh5575]

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

[@sangeetadavidschinaglspeci2684]

The first roll She was the best

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@TheLizKirkland]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@lensbaad6069]

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

[@ruthnaismith519]

Claire Foy was the best by far

[@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

[@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)

[@albertcanzana794]

They are incomparable.

[@adorablegirl1559]

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

[@teresacastle8155]

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

[@nauradesousa7324]

I think the young Elisabeth wad great .the others is as well very good .the last philipe I think was too old for the time was showing.

[@passiveagressive4983]

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

[@gailkruger1414]

All 3 ladies were amazing!

[@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!

[@alexanderh9878]

The 3 of them were great.

[@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

[@ellabautista5091]

I like all 3 of them.

[@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.

[@GlennDavey]

Imelda was doing an impression of Claire I realised, not exactly of the Queen

[@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.

[@hanginthere1101]

I have to say Imelda played way too hard in season 5, some parts are really pretentious to me. You can feel that is acting, not becoming the rule. But she became more relatable, more soft in season 6. I love her portrayal in season 6. Claire is truly a queen. She shows how powerful a queen should be. The strength is undeniable. Olivia is more connected to the audience. Especially when she listened to the PM telling story of Princess Margret visiting US, those reactions really are priceless. What an amazing performance. The final episode really blew me away

[@davisoaresalves5179]

Foy was the best.

[@ClassicRoyal]

Claire was my fav as the young Elizabeth.

[@maryloumawson6006]

No question, Claire Foy! Her performance is incandescent! Also, the story lines in the first 2 seasons were fascinating and historic. Not just gossip and sensationalism. I may be biased against the later series because I lived through those scandals, and was utterly sick of hearing about Charles' and Diana's marital woes. IMHO, QEII was an exemplary monarch, doing her duty, without drama, in a dignified, and gracious manner. And Philip was a much more supportive and helpful consort than I had supposed. Their children however...Is it so much to ask that these wealthy and privileged people live up to the ideals their positions were meant to uphold? I mean, THAT is why they are there. They're supposed to be the best of the best. The cream of the crop. The epitome of what it means to be a classy human being. Nobody wants to be confronted with the evidence that they are the same as anyone else.

[@faimamuse1111]

Claire looked way too prettier than the real Elizabeth II. Olivia looked much taller and stronger in build than the actual Elizabeth II. But, Imelda looked like her twin but I preferred the performance of Claire more than the others. Btw, Olivia's topnotch acting skill made the character believable despite looking the least like Queen Elizabeth II.

[@jamiete-whau595]

I was today years old when i realised ER stands for Elizabeth Regina.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Not just the Queen but every casting decision was very much on point in the Series. Props to the Casting Department.

[@bdchiaccio]

Both versions of Charles were amazing too

[@jeremyn2008]

I think Imelda is my fave!

[@viciouspoodle5543]

I'm sorry but I just can't stand Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth. I thought it was a mistake from the day it was announced. She's just not right. Dolores Umbridge is playing the Queen!😞

[@ninak1976]

My favourites: best Elizabeth: claire foy, worst: imelda staunton Best phillip: Tobias Menzies Best Margaret: Leslie Manville Best Charles: Josh O Connor Best Diana: not shure, maybe Elizabeth Debicki

[@jeppeaksrensen8316]

Missmojo is truly outing themselves as a “The Crown” stan

[@danando2]

There is nothing to compare, in the order of best to worse is exactly the timline of the actors that plaued lilibet from young to old, but saying that, they were all good at potraying the queen, but again, who else could play the queen as good as those 3 we had lol

[@shijojustin7595]

Olivia 🔥

[@roywarlord1500]

Clair Foy is definitely the best

[@Booradely4687]

Season 2 and 3

[@WriterProfessor]

Claire Foy portrays the Queen as awkward in her emerging public role. When I review early footage of the Queen's reign, I just do not see this.

[@greyLeicester]

Funny. I actually got the opposite impression... she was determined and confident 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

[@WriterProfessor]

@@greyLeicester It is a very understated awkwardness in the British way, but I thought it was there.

[@glennmoyer5930]

The 3rd Queen looks more like Sofia from Golden Girls than the Queen.

[@kaywoolsey3722]

Imelda is not my favorite actor for the queen...to be honest, I didn't care for the actor playing prince Phillip or Diana, but I love the actress playing princess Margaret is amazing!!

[@gracexavier]

Sad but the first 2 rocked. Sorry Imelda nothing personal. Just my honest view.

[@Easy-Learningss]

Claire Foy > Olivia Colman > Imela Staunton ✌️

[@cinnow]

Staunton's was not a good performance, like Foy best

[@raquelmichelena2175]

I think Olivia is the best

[@FannysLoA]

Claire Foy is *extremely* likeable. The other two are more similar to the real life Elizabeth, I think. More cold and distant, harder to find as a personality. I hope they bring back whoever played young Prince Philip as Harry during Meghan Times, because they look extremely similar. Will be fun to see how he deals with a different body language as well. And that season 6 won't be as bootlicking as season 5, which was a giant anticlimax. The trailer ruled, the season sucked. And not thanks to the actors, they were all brilliant... Well, maybe not "Charles". But the rest of them did a great job with a poor manuscript.

[@erescam]

In accent mmmmmmmmmm Imelda. And looks as well. Olvia Coleman was too tall hehehe.

[@orion8835]

Coleman was not at all like her really. It was all far too stern and the vibe was odd. The performance of course was strong and I suppose that is what “mattered”. The eye color however as well as other actors who for a bewildering reason did not all don blue color contacts. This was beyond laughable really. Foy and Staunton did a superb job. A very difficult project for sure.

[@robertchuter884]

Imeda was awful. Claire Foyle was the best.

[@ScenicWinds]

Imelda was the worst. It was like watching Umbridge running around..