Elizabeth Debicki and Princess Diana.Photo: Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Georges De Keerle/Getty Images
Elizabeth Debickididn’t hesitate to playPrincess DianainThe Crown.
The 32-year-old Australian actress makes her debut as the late Princess of Wales in season 5 ofThe Crown, out Wednesday on Netflix. In a new interview withThe Guardian, published Saturday, Debicki opened up about the pressure of the role and thecontroversy that surroundsthe show, based on the lives of the British royal family.
When asked if she ever doubted tackling the role of Diana through the sensitive era,The Guardianreported that Debicki “firmly” said no.
Elizabeth Debicki (center) inThe Crown.BACKGRID / SplashNews.com
“I went off instinct, and I didn’t overthink it. I’ve watched this show and loved it for years,” theTenetstar explained. “I knew I was stepping into working with people who were extremely intelligent and very sensitive about how they went about creating the script and making decisions. So I never felt like I’d jumped on unstable ground.”
Debicki citedThe Crown’s extensive research department, Corrin’s performance and meticulous scripts from show creator Peter Morgan as her inspiration in framing her most prominent role to date.
The Crown/Netflix
“Suddenly what feels like a vast field of information is very quickly, extremely narrowed down to existing within the framework that Peter [Morgan] has built for you. It was a huge relief,” she said of portraying the inimitable princess. “I remember thinking, now my responsibility is to bring to life what he has written, and his interpretation of these events and these people.”
The idea of “interpretation” is essential. ThoughThe Crownhas yet to hit queues, Dame Judi Dench made headlines last month for penning an open letter toThe Times,demanding that Netflixadd a disclaimerto the upcoming season(which features a storyline aboutKing Charles IIImulling how to accelerate his accession to the throne) as “cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent.”
Pressed as to whether such criticisms make her feel defensive, Debicki said that they did not.
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in The Crown.Netflix/YouTube
“I understand what the show is, and what it’s trying to do. I also understand the reaction to it. I think this is a period of time that’s been told many times over and will continue to be told, and I know the degree of care and respect people enter into these stories with,” she said.
“I mean, it is clearly fictional. I feel like audiences know that, because there are actors, playing parts. I never watchedThe Crownand thought, this is a documentary, or this is obviously true.”
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Keith Bernstein/Netflix, Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
“Of course there’s a part of me that goes, God, will that happen? But then I think the Australian in me is like, well, I dunno, just sit down and have a cup of tea, let’s see if anyone watches it.' That self-deprecating Australian thing really bolts you to the ground, which is helpful, in times like these,” Debicki deadpanned.
Season 5 ofThe Crownhits Netflix queues on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
source: people.com
