The Crown: Dominic West on why seeing Elizabeth Debicki as Diana for the first time was 'terrifying'

Virgin Radio

9 Nov 2022, 12:13

Ahead of the much-anticipated fifth season of The Crown landing today (9th November), its stars assembled on the red carpet in London for the world premiere last night, and virginradio.co.uk was there to talk to them.

At the season five premiere at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, Dominic West spoke to virginradio.co.uk and other press about taking on the role of Prince Charles for the latest instalment in the royal story. “The truth is I don't know if I can play him, but it's such a great part in such a great show. That's what you live for as an actor, and so it's not something you can turn down when it comes along.”

On the most challenging thing about playing Charles, the Pride and Brassic actor said: “I think he's a very contained man, I think physically very contained. And I'm not. I'm much more precarious or, like, I feel I'm an octopus compared to him and I found the containment hard. The sense that you're always on show, and also the sense that so much of your life is directed and pre arranged. I found that very difficult to get my head around.”

When asked what it was like the first time he saw Elizabeth Debicki in character as Princess Diana for the first time, Dominic said: “It was terrifying. I mean, she was just perfect and it was the camera test. So, fortunately it was a few months before we actually had to do a scene, but I remember thinking, ‘Oh my god, she's got this in the bag already.’ 

“She was moving and talking and looking just like her character and I felt like I was sort of stumbling around in the dark, and in front of a crew who had watched two great casts play this show before. So it was really terrifying but amazing. I mean, there's very few actors, actresses who could play that part. And she's probably the only one actually.” 

On whether he would make a good royal in real life, the star actor said: “I’d like the trappings, I'm not sure I'd like the responsibilities.”

Other stars of The Crown on the red carpet in London last night included Imelda Staunton, who said that season five is "dignified and respectful".

The Crown season 5 is available to stream on Netflix.