Imelda Staunton reveals she’s feeling ‘pressure from every angle’ ahead of The Crown

Imelda Staunton has revealed she’s feeling ‘pressure from every angle’ as she prepares to take on ‘one extraordinary human being’ and play the Queen in series five of The Crown.

The British actress, 64, appeared on This Morning today to chat about taking Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads monologues from the small screen to the stage.

Having been performed as part of a BBC production recently, the series of socially-distanced monologues are currently being put on in London before touring Leeds and Sheffield.

Imelda also spoke with hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford about her daunting role as the Queen in the Netflix drama, which she will start filming for next year following Olivia Colman’s portrayal of the monarch. 

On appearing in The Crown, Imelda said: ‘There’s pressure from every angle. I’m following two extraordinary actresses, but I’m also following one extraordinary human being, which is the Queen.

Imelda Staunton (pictured) has revealed she’s feeling ‘pressure from every angle’ as she prepares to take on ‘one extraordinary human being’ and play the Queen in series five of The Crown

‘We know how she looks and how she sounds, and of course I need to be like her as much as I can, but also I have to tell a story.’

She added: ‘And Peter Morgan’s job is to do her backstage life. 

‘That’s where his writing comes in and it’s so extraordinary because we have all got so much footage of the Queen doing her speeches and things like that, and the strength of The Crown has been going inside their private lives and making it as real as you can.’

Imelda revealed that she doesn’t start filming until next July but is already working on the role now by watching footage of the monarch she’s set to play.  

Imelda (pictured in Downton Abbey) also spoke with hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford about her daunting role as the Queen in the Netflix drama, which she will start filming for next year following Olivia Colman’s portrayal of the monarch 

The British actress (pictured right), 64, appeared on This Morning today to chat about taking Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads monologues from the small screen to the stage

‘And my television will be on, I think it’s the 15th November when Olivia starts,’ she added, regarding the upcoming series of The Crown. 

‘I’ll be very excited and terrified but I am so looking forward to watching it and then I have to get a move on and take the baton and move on.’ 

Imelda will take over the royal role for the final two series of The Crown, which will cover the Royal Family’s history throughout the 1990s and into 2003. 

There are several poignant moments during the decade, which include the Queen making a speech on her 40th anniversary of her accession in 1992, in which she called the year an ‘annus horriblis’. 

 Imelda revealed that she doesn’t start filming until next July but is already working on the role – which she takes over from Olivia Colman (above) – now by watching footage of the monarch she’s set to play

She was referring to  the breakdown of three of her children’s marriages; Prince Andrew, Princess Anne’s and Prince Charles’ divorce from Princess Diana. 

Other noteable events during the time period included a fire at Windsor Castle, her golden wedding anniversary in 1997, and the deaths of Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and the Princess of Wales.      

Despite concerns that the series would be delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis, which brought much of the television industry to a halt, the fourth season will be released as planned on November 15.