Precedence, passion and pageantry, keeping calm and carrying on, the history of the Royal British Family goes back more than a thousand years and has fascinated people with its ceremonies, opulence and most importantly, the flesh and blood people at its center, since it gained ruling status of England. While these days, the British Royal Family reign by name alone, since the UK became a constitutional monarchy at the turn of the 18th Century, with only a handful of monarchies left, the idea of a modern-day king and queen has become as enchanting as any fairytale. Case in point: the hysteria surrounding the marriages of both Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, and decades later, the marriage of their son William to Kate Middleton.
If you happened to have been born after either of these events, let us tell you – the world practically stopped to tune in to see these two couples exchange vows, announce their love for one another, and finally – kiss. As such, it was no surprise that in 2016, fans of the Royal Family were overjoyed when Netflix released a new show called The Crown, chronicling the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II, starting shortly before King George’s death.
The historical-drama series is meant to be biographical but the writers have also taken some artistic liberty and imagined conversations that are rumored to have taken place behind the heavy palace gates. Some of the most memorable moments in British history are depicted on the show, including Elizabeth’s coronation, her wedding to roguish royal Philip, and the Great Smog of London, which occurred in 1952.
One of the most notable facts of the show is that the producers have tried their best to hire actors who resemble the real life historical figures they are portraying. They are so adamant about being historically accurate that for the third season, (which is still in production) they have hired new actors to play the characters as they age and enter a new period in history.
The diligent and in-depth way that the show has been built really captivated our hearts, and has also made us wonder exactly how similar the enormously talented cast is to the original characters they portray. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of the actors on The Crown together with the real historical characters they embody on the show. Take a look at them side by side – many times, the resemblance is uncanny.
[post_page_title]Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth[/post_page_title]
Upon her father’s untimely death, a 25 year-old Queen Elizabeth was thrust into the royal of monarch. The show depicts the turmoil Elizabeth faces between her duty as Queen and her feelings towards her husband and family as well as her unwillingness to adjust her reign into the modern world. In addition to dressing the part, Claire Foy had to speak the part. Although she is British, the Queen has such a distinct “aristocratic” accent that the actress had to do voice training in order to get it perfect.
