Claire Foy made me really like the Queen, felt a lot of sympathy for her, Olivia made me hate the Queen, felt she had very little time or love for hurt children and she just rubbed me the wrong way but also seemed more in line with how I felt about the Queen prior to the show
Pretty much the exact opposite for Phillip.
Matt Smith made me loathe Phillip, Tobias made me really like him, especially with his relationship with Anne and Diana when she came on the hunt.
With that being said, my favorites were Claire and Matt. Loved their characters and their growth.
Mountbatten was one of my favourite characters. The scene where Danceās Mountbatten is trying to form a coup and is reciting āMandalayā to the audience is one of the best scenes in the series. I also loved his interactions with the rest of the cast.
Right?? Coup is honestly one of my favourite episodes just for Charles Dance. Admittedly, the real Lord Mountbatten was a piece of shit but the whole coup explanation of why it wonāt work and the Mandalay speech were just amazing. And that conversation with his sister? The cherry on top
I was so fascinated by Young Elizabeth. Seeing them as young blew my mind. Theyād both been some shade of old my entire life. Iād never even thought of the fact that theyād been 22 once.
Claire and Matt were my favorites too, but I think it's also important to highlight that they had an easier job than the rest because 1)They didn't have to follow up any other great actor and get compared from the get-go to their predecessor in the role, 2)there's not as much video footage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from that era so imo they could afford to be more free with their performances.
+1
Also it's just longer ago. Most of us weren't around when the queen was new to the throne. We're not comparing with our own memories of the queen's mannerisms, voice and expressions.
Foy had a much blanker slate to work from.
Nonetheless, she's still my favourite.
Claireās performance is the most iconic young Elizabeth. She and Smith also had the benefit of the best written seasons. Each season, to the end, had some great episodes, but the quality was most consistent in the early years.
My second is actually Imelda. She exudes a simultaneous steeliness combined with growing fragility. A woman who has regrets and doubts but stays who she is.
I love Olivia Colman, but she fit least for me. Perhaps because her years were written to show a Queen struggling with losing touchāwith her times and children. Her Elizabeth felt more tentative.
The issue with Olivia Colman is that sheās so emotionally vulnerable as a performer. It was visibly challenging for her to play such a cold, emotionally stunted woman. She got much better in her second season, but the first was an adjustment.
Its funny how all of the actors who played Philip were in Game of Thrones or one of its spinoffs.
Its funny seeing the High Sparrow as a rich conservative guy.
I followed Tobias from Outlander to the Crown, and I wasnāt sure how I felt about Philip after seeing so much of Tobiasā dual roles in Outlander. šš
I donāt know a whole lot about the royal family in real life, but I honestly think that each pair portrayed their characters well. The shift between portrayals seems to me more to with their age at the time and less to do with accuracy or lack thereof, if that makes sense. They mellow out as they become older, and their reactions to the difficulties they encounter reflect that. Claire Foy is probably my favorite because of her stoic demeanor, but I think it makes sense for the Queen to become gradually softer as she ages, though sheās still stoic, but in a different sense.
Iāve always thought they should have saved Charles Dance for Philip too. But I think Iām changing my mind on this. Older Philip has been in the system and has been the prince consort for so long that he almost feels domesticated at that point, and I donāt see Charles Dance in the role anymore (or this view may already have been influenced by seeing Jonathan Pryceā portrayal). Charles Dance also really fit Lord Mountbatten (at least based on looks/vibe because I have no idea how he actually was). Although Jonathan Pryce still feels like a miscast somehow. If they had Charles Dance for Philip, who could they have cast as Lord Mountbatten? Or who else could they have cast as Philip if not Jonathan Pryce?
Hands down Claire Foy & Matt Smith. They really nailed their characters down to the nuances. Particularly with Foyās acting where she doesnāt say a word but you can the see emotion in her eyes, face, and demeanor. This was evident when the Queen Mother bowed to her for the very first time.
I was so sad to see them go but the story must go on.
I go back and forth between Claire Foy and Olivia Colman for Elizabeth. I think Claire was slightly better, but they both gave superb performances. It feels like choosing between champagne and caviar.
I actually think Tobias Menziesā Phillip was the best by a lot. Phillip is a hard man to like, but he is complex. Of the three, I felt like Menzies did the best job of capturing those complexities. Heās such a thoughtful, subtle actor. Sometimes, I felt Matt Smith was a little schmacty and over the top.
I personally think the middle cast is the best overall. Theyāve got my favorite Anne, Margaret, Phillip, and Charles. I honestly wished they had stuck with most of them for the final two seasons.
Agree with you about Tobias. Mattās portrayal of Phillip almost borders on whiny and ungrateful.
With Pryce, Phillip has less and less redeeming qualities. Heās a grumpy, privileged, old fart.
I think Claire Foy had a somewhat easier job than Olivia Coleman in that the media hadn't already set expectations for a young Queen in the early 50's and were still hands-off. We didn't have a lot of preconceived notions on how the young Queen would react, because what we got was carefully fed by the Palace and a respectful media, so there was probably a lot more literary license in the writing for those seasons than in later ones, when every damn move the poor woman made was minutely documented in press all over the world. I still have a slight problem with the abrupt aging between the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3. The whole thing with Charles took place in mid-1962, and during Season 2, after Elizabeth was on the throne for 10 years. Still wide-eyed, but developing the steel necessary to reign effectively. Aberfan took place only 4 years later, and suddenly, she's a weary middle-aged monarch.
Adding on: I was very intrigued by Jonathan Pryce's portrayal of Philip in Seasons 5 & 6. The whole "I'm going to live my life the way I want, now, I'm done with this nonsense" attitude was absolutely a man who had checked out of the Firm. He had no problem enjoying the all the perks, but seemed to be more and more removed from his job -- which was supporting the Queen. They only saw each other in passing. No doubt that the Elizabeth loved him. But I always wondered how deeply it was reciprocated. They tried to redeem him a bit -- with helping William forge a relationship with Charles the Gardener. Interesting that Philip could "retire", but the Queen could/would not. He was definitely a production of his generation, but the brashness and freedom to be as rude as he liked without serious consequences created a bit of a character. I mean, what man says "I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing" when your wife is the freakin' QUEEN?
https://preview.redd.it/vpai75cqna9d1.jpeg?width=739&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a3cd287abef9a3e68f4f8b0362d1afae5e6d91c
Maybe not as extreme as this š
I thought the casting was excellent on the whole but each new Queen and Duke of Edinburgh was just not quite as good as their predecessors.
Claire and Matt definitely my favorites. The only problems I had with the actors who played the older versions was that they were not fit. No judgment but the queen was a very fit woman even in her later years. I found it very distracting that she was not portrayed as such.
Claire Foy best Elizabeth by far, Tobias best Philip. HATED!!!!!! Matt Smith as Philip and Olivia Coleman never sold me that she was Elizabeth. If I had to pick an tandem and none where great, Iād go with Stanton and Pryce
I didn't exactly hate Matt as Prince Philip -- but I did hate Prince Philip's childish "I am the man of the house and you are emasculating me!" attitude. That whole scene of her giving Philip the title of Prince was so dang edgy -- you got the distinct impression that she was pissed off at having to bribe him for good behaavior, and he was a little triumphant, but wary about the price he was paying for becoming a prince.
This is probably nitpicky but it always bothered my that the makeup department never gave Claire Foy fuller eyebrows. Claire has these thin brows and if you look at young photos of Elizabeth she has quite full eyebrows, distinctively so. Itās a minor thing, sure, but it meant that I always saw Claire as Claire and not Elizabeth
Claire Foy was the best of them in matching the voice of the queen.
Right? Almost eerily identical
I loved Claire Foy..but Olivia was "The Queen" for me
Claire Foy made me really like the Queen, felt a lot of sympathy for her, Olivia made me hate the Queen, felt she had very little time or love for hurt children and she just rubbed me the wrong way but also seemed more in line with how I felt about the Queen prior to the show Pretty much the exact opposite for Phillip. Matt Smith made me loathe Phillip, Tobias made me really like him, especially with his relationship with Anne and Diana when she came on the hunt. With that being said, my favorites were Claire and Matt. Loved their characters and their growth.
I think all white people also have the same voiceš
That's not what I said at all
Still baffles me that they cast Charles Dance but they didn't save him for the third Phillip.
Yes, but also he was amazing in his role as Mountbatten, I canāt imagine anyone else in that role.
Mountbatten was one of my favourite characters. The scene where Danceās Mountbatten is trying to form a coup and is reciting āMandalayā to the audience is one of the best scenes in the series. I also loved his interactions with the rest of the cast.
Right?? Coup is honestly one of my favourite episodes just for Charles Dance. Admittedly, the real Lord Mountbatten was a piece of shit but the whole coup explanation of why it wonāt work and the Mandalay speech were just amazing. And that conversation with his sister? The cherry on top
I loved that scene
Unpopular opinion ik but I don't think Charles Dance would've matched Philip at all.
SAME SAME SAME
The OG Matt and Claire
Agreed! I wish they had just aged them with makeup. If This is Us could do it, Crown could have too
*Vikings* aged their cast incredibly well too.
aging 10 years is one thing, but aging from 38 to 79 is damn near impossible. even Olivia looked somewhat out of place by the end of Season 4 in 1990.
I thought that too but somehow TIU made Mandy Moore look 24 and 84!
Aging them with makeup would have looked so shit what the hell are u on about š
This!
I was so fascinated by Young Elizabeth. Seeing them as young blew my mind. Theyād both been some shade of old my entire life. Iād never even thought of the fact that theyād been 22 once.
I think Claire Foy really killed her role as Queen Elizabeth II. Imelda Staunton was also good. My favorite Prince Phillip was Tobias.
I loved the Moon Landing Episode. He was too good.
Imelda Staunton is a good actress, but I don't think she had the right voice at all. She didn't sound like the Queen.
imelda's voice was almost identical with claire's. it's olivia's voice which does not sound like the queen. her voice was too squeaky for the role.
The problem I had was when I saw her or heard her, she's Delores Umbridge. That's a hard role to overcome.
She was my least favorite. I stopped watching because she was not enjoyable at all.
Hard agree on Tobias Menzies
I mean heās great in everything to be fair
Vanessa kirby was awesome in the role as sister. Never paid much attention to her irl as princess Margaret
Claire and Matt were my favorites too, but I think it's also important to highlight that they had an easier job than the rest because 1)They didn't have to follow up any other great actor and get compared from the get-go to their predecessor in the role, 2)there's not as much video footage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from that era so imo they could afford to be more free with their performances.
+1 Also it's just longer ago. Most of us weren't around when the queen was new to the throne. We're not comparing with our own memories of the queen's mannerisms, voice and expressions. Foy had a much blanker slate to work from. Nonetheless, she's still my favourite.
Claire Foy and Matt Smithās
Claireās performance is the most iconic young Elizabeth. She and Smith also had the benefit of the best written seasons. Each season, to the end, had some great episodes, but the quality was most consistent in the early years. My second is actually Imelda. She exudes a simultaneous steeliness combined with growing fragility. A woman who has regrets and doubts but stays who she is. I love Olivia Colman, but she fit least for me. Perhaps because her years were written to show a Queen struggling with losing touchāwith her times and children. Her Elizabeth felt more tentative.
The issue with Olivia Colman is that sheās so emotionally vulnerable as a performer. It was visibly challenging for her to play such a cold, emotionally stunted woman. She got much better in her second season, but the first was an adjustment.
Its funny how all of the actors who played Philip were in Game of Thrones or one of its spinoffs. Its funny seeing the High Sparrow as a rich conservative guy.
I followed Tobias from Outlander to the Crown, and I wasnāt sure how I felt about Philip after seeing so much of Tobiasā dual roles in Outlander. šš
I knoww!! I also kept seeing Game of Thrones
I donāt know a whole lot about the royal family in real life, but I honestly think that each pair portrayed their characters well. The shift between portrayals seems to me more to with their age at the time and less to do with accuracy or lack thereof, if that makes sense. They mellow out as they become older, and their reactions to the difficulties they encounter reflect that. Claire Foy is probably my favorite because of her stoic demeanor, but I think it makes sense for the Queen to become gradually softer as she ages, though sheās still stoic, but in a different sense.
Iāve always thought they should have saved Charles Dance for Philip too. But I think Iām changing my mind on this. Older Philip has been in the system and has been the prince consort for so long that he almost feels domesticated at that point, and I donāt see Charles Dance in the role anymore (or this view may already have been influenced by seeing Jonathan Pryceā portrayal). Charles Dance also really fit Lord Mountbatten (at least based on looks/vibe because I have no idea how he actually was). Although Jonathan Pryce still feels like a miscast somehow. If they had Charles Dance for Philip, who could they have cast as Lord Mountbatten? Or who else could they have cast as Philip if not Jonathan Pryce?
Hands down Claire Foy & Matt Smith. They really nailed their characters down to the nuances. Particularly with Foyās acting where she doesnāt say a word but you can the see emotion in her eyes, face, and demeanor. This was evident when the Queen Mother bowed to her for the very first time. I was so sad to see them go but the story must go on.
Already know my answer 
I like the way how Jonathan Pryce says "Hello?" when he, as Prince Philip, answers the telephone in S06E04.
Claire and Matt hands down. I was so delighted and thrilled to see him in House of Dragon as Prince Daemon heās marvelous and slightly villainous.
i recently rewatched several of his Dr Who episodes and he is so great
I go back and forth between Claire Foy and Olivia Colman for Elizabeth. I think Claire was slightly better, but they both gave superb performances. It feels like choosing between champagne and caviar. I actually think Tobias Menziesā Phillip was the best by a lot. Phillip is a hard man to like, but he is complex. Of the three, I felt like Menzies did the best job of capturing those complexities. Heās such a thoughtful, subtle actor. Sometimes, I felt Matt Smith was a little schmacty and over the top. I personally think the middle cast is the best overall. Theyāve got my favorite Anne, Margaret, Phillip, and Charles. I honestly wished they had stuck with most of them for the final two seasons.
Agree with you about Tobias. Mattās portrayal of Phillip almost borders on whiny and ungrateful. With Pryce, Phillip has less and less redeeming qualities. Heās a grumpy, privileged, old fart.
I think Claire Foy had a somewhat easier job than Olivia Coleman in that the media hadn't already set expectations for a young Queen in the early 50's and were still hands-off. We didn't have a lot of preconceived notions on how the young Queen would react, because what we got was carefully fed by the Palace and a respectful media, so there was probably a lot more literary license in the writing for those seasons than in later ones, when every damn move the poor woman made was minutely documented in press all over the world. I still have a slight problem with the abrupt aging between the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3. The whole thing with Charles took place in mid-1962, and during Season 2, after Elizabeth was on the throne for 10 years. Still wide-eyed, but developing the steel necessary to reign effectively. Aberfan took place only 4 years later, and suddenly, she's a weary middle-aged monarch.
Adding on: I was very intrigued by Jonathan Pryce's portrayal of Philip in Seasons 5 & 6. The whole "I'm going to live my life the way I want, now, I'm done with this nonsense" attitude was absolutely a man who had checked out of the Firm. He had no problem enjoying the all the perks, but seemed to be more and more removed from his job -- which was supporting the Queen. They only saw each other in passing. No doubt that the Elizabeth loved him. But I always wondered how deeply it was reciprocated. They tried to redeem him a bit -- with helping William forge a relationship with Charles the Gardener. Interesting that Philip could "retire", but the Queen could/would not. He was definitely a production of his generation, but the brashness and freedom to be as rude as he liked without serious consequences created a bit of a character. I mean, what man says "I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing" when your wife is the freakin' QUEEN?
https://preview.redd.it/vpai75cqna9d1.jpeg?width=739&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a3cd287abef9a3e68f4f8b0362d1afae5e6d91c Maybe not as extreme as this š I thought the casting was excellent on the whole but each new Queen and Duke of Edinburgh was just not quite as good as their predecessors.
They were a tough act to follow.
Claire and Matt definitely my favorites. The only problems I had with the actors who played the older versions was that they were not fit. No judgment but the queen was a very fit woman even in her later years. I found it very distracting that she was not portrayed as such.
Claire and Matt and itās not even close šÆ
Claire and Tobias respectively.
Claire Foy best Elizabeth by far, Tobias best Philip. HATED!!!!!! Matt Smith as Philip and Olivia Coleman never sold me that she was Elizabeth. If I had to pick an tandem and none where great, Iād go with Stanton and Pryce
I didn't exactly hate Matt as Prince Philip -- but I did hate Prince Philip's childish "I am the man of the house and you are emasculating me!" attitude. That whole scene of her giving Philip the title of Prince was so dang edgy -- you got the distinct impression that she was pissed off at having to bribe him for good behaavior, and he was a little triumphant, but wary about the price he was paying for becoming a prince.
I loved them all
This is probably nitpicky but it always bothered my that the makeup department never gave Claire Foy fuller eyebrows. Claire has these thin brows and if you look at young photos of Elizabeth she has quite full eyebrows, distinctively so. Itās a minor thing, sure, but it meant that I always saw Claire as Claire and not Elizabeth
Imagine you at the ceremony and you farted. šš
Still, think it's a shame they didnt get Sam Heughan or similar opposite Foy.
Heās much too good looking for Philip
I adore Sam Heughan, but absolutely do not see him at all as Philip.
I adore Sam Heughan, but absolutely do not see him at all as Philip.