How Elizabeth Debicki secured The Crown role – and her physical trait which has pleased Diana fans

Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki’s casting as Princess Diana for the final two seasons of The Crown has delighted longtime fans of the show.

From her big break in 2013’s star-studded flick The Great Gatsby to becoming a household name thanks to 2006’s TV series, The Night Manager – the 29-year-old has undoubtedly climbed up the ranks to secure her coveted new gig.

The Melbourne native’s casting has been particularly praised by royal fans, who have pointed out that her statuesque 6’3 [190.5 cm] height more or less mimics that of the People’s Princess – who stood at 5’10 [177.8 cm]. 

Royally pleased: Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki’s casting as Princess Diana for the final two seasons of The Crown has delighted longtime fans of the show

A former ballerina in training, Elizabeth switched to theatre during high school. She studied at University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts, where she was also awarded the Richard Pratt Bursary for outstanding acting students.

Debicki shot to stardom after making her debut in The Great Gatsby in 2013, after impressing the film’s director Baz Luhrmann with her brief appearance in the 2011 Australian movie, A Few Best Men.

Since then, she has appeared in several movies including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Vita and Virginia, Widows and The Cloverfield Paradox.

Debicki has also done voiceovers for Peter Rabbit and appeared in television series The Kettering Incident and The Night Manager alongside Tom Hiddleston.

Elizabeth will also be seen in the soon-to-be-released Christopher Nolan project Tenet with Robert Pattinson and Michael Caine.

Stardom: From her big break in 2013’s star-studded flick The Great Gatsby [Pictured L] to becoming a household name thanks to 2006’s TV series, The Night Manager – the 29-year-old has undoubtedly climbed up the ranks to secure her coveted new gig

True to form: The Melbourne native’s casting has been particularly praised by royal fans, who have pointed out that her statuesque 6’3 [190.5 cm] height more or less mimics that of the People’s Princess – who stood at 5’10 [177.8 cm]

The blonde’s impeccable acting talent, and ability to hold her own alongside huge Hollywood names, unquestionably impressed the creators of The Crown.

The star will take over from Emma Corrin in the hit Netflix show, playing Diana for the fifth and sixth series, which will include Diana’s death in 1997.

At 29, the Australian star is the same age the late princess was in 1990, the year the fifth series begins.

The actress said of her casting: ‘Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many.

‘It is my privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.’

As well as her talent, Elizabeth’s casting has also been celebrated because of her physical appearance.

‘Casting Elizabeth finally embraces that Diana was tall!’ As well as her talent, Elizabeth’s casting has also been celebrated because of her physical appearance

At 6’3, she towers above other actresses who have played statuesque Princess Diana in other projects.

Naomi Watts [5’5] took on the royal role in the 2013 movie Diana, while Kristen Stewart [5’5] will soon bring to life her portrayal of the late icon in the upcoming historical drama, Spencer.

One fan tweeted: ‘The crown gonna make every man wear platforms under their shoes and won’t let elizabeth debicki stand in any of the cast photoshoots let my tall queen tower over these peasant men.’

Another curious person said: ‘I don’t watch this show but now I have to just to see Tall Elizabeth Debicki as princess Diana oh my God.’

Someone else added: ‘To save everybody the Googling of, “How tall was Princess Diana?” and the answer is, apparently, 5’10”. Granted that Elizabeth Debicki will still have to slouch a little… that’s not bad!’

Another noted: ‘No one serves tall but fragile like Elizabeth Debicki, the casting director for The Crown just gets it.’

‘Casting is spot on!’ The love and support continued to pour in for the Australian actress on social media 

‘She has the perfect combination’: Show insiders reveal the Netflix show’s creators were impressed with Elizbeth’s ‘star quality’ as she beat out several big names for the coveted role

The love and support continued to pour in for the Australian actress with the following messages on social media:       

‘Miss elizabeth debicki playing princess diana in TWO seasons of the crown THIS IS HOW WE WIN.’

‘Claire Foy is happy with this choice! Okay im suuuuper happy#ElizabethDebicki. IS the best choice! She is tall and beautiful just like the late and beloved Princess Diana! No doubts s5 & s6 will be a-m-a-z-i-n-g!.’

‘Their casting is always, always spot on.’

‘The crown really outdid themselves with casting elizabeth debicki as princess diana. i mean the implications this has.’   

Meanwhile, show insiders reveal the Netflix show’s creators were impressed with Elizabeth’s ‘star quality’ as she beat out a number of big names for the coveted role.

Humble beginnings: A former ballerina in training, Elizabeth switched to theatre during high school. She studied at University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts, where she was also awarded the Richard Pratt Bursary for outstanding acting students

The show insider said: ‘Season five and six will see Diana emerging as an effortless icon with superstar quality but yet still retaining that fragility.

‘The role requires a fearless actor to bring truth to this beloved yet complex icon. Elizabeth had that perfect combination of megawatt star quality and vulnerability.

‘She was an instant hit – when Elizabeth walked into the room producers were immediately struck by a sheer force of personality and energy and they knew they had found the perfect Diana for the final chapters of The Crown.

‘As well as having the acting ability to tackle such a challenging role, the obvious similarities between Elizabeth and Diana in terms of appearance also made her a natural choice.’

Star: Elizabeth’s next big screen role is in Christopher Nolan movie Tenet, after famously landing her breakthrough role as Jordan Baker in Baz Luhrmann’s movie, The Great Gatsby (pictured with co-star Tobey Maguire)

Elizabeth’s casting comes after she took her native Australia to task for falling victim to tall poppy syndrome and knocking down anyone who gets ‘too ambitious’. 

She told British newspaper The Observer it was the reason why talented Australians ‘often have to leave the pool and collect experience, collect people, and then come back to it. Or, they just sort of leave – and they don’t necessarily go back.’

Tall poppy syndrome is a common Australian term referring to the idea poppies should grow at the same rate and any plant that gets too tall should be cut down. 

‘If you’re an actor, you mustn’t get any ideas about your craft. In Australia, you’re barely allowed to say this is a job,’ Debicki said.

Accolades: She also won acclaim in the 2016 BBC drama The Night Manager, starring opposite Tom Hiddleston in the adapataion of John le Carré’s novel

‘You’re supposed to be like, I don’t know, sometimes I just do this thing, the camera rolls, then like, I go home! You can’t own any of it, they’ll just knock you down.’

Speaking from her adopted home in Los Angeles, the Melbourne-raised actress said she was uncomfortable with the idea of being comfortable and Australia’s tall poppy syndrome holds people back from ‘being too ambitious, not too provocative or transgressive’.

‘I understand that makes for a pleasant drink at the pub, but I’m not really interested in being too comfortable,’ she said of Australia’s attitude.

‘I understand what it means to one day pack your suitcase up and leave the thing that was familiar to you, and have to come to Los Angeles or wherever and do that rite of passage. I get that, because I’ve done it. I think that is common ground for us.’

‘In Australia, you’re barely allowed to say this is a job!’ Elizabeth’s casting comes after she took her native Australia to task for falling victim to tall poppy syndrome and knocking down anyone who gets ‘too ambitious’