Hey there, royal drama fans! Let’s talk about an exciting change coming to one of Netflix’s biggest hits, The Crown. Get ready to welcome Olivia Colman, the incredibly talented 43-year-old actress, who is set to take over the iconic role of Queen Elizabeth II for the show’s third and fourth seasons. If you’re a fan of British television, you might already know Olivia from her breakout role in the gripping thriller Broadchurch. That performance, by the way, earned her a prestigious Best Actress BAFTA in 2014. But her resume doesn’t stop there—she’s also been featured in critically acclaimed films like The Lobster, Tyrannosaur, and The Iron Lady. With filming scheduled to begin next year, Season 3 is expected to premiere on Netflix in early 2019, bringing a fresh perspective to this beloved historical drama.

That's Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth on The Crown.
(Photo Credit: R/R)

Claire Foy’s Legacy and the Torch Passed to Olivia Colman

In a recent interview, Claire Foy revealed that she knows who will step into her shoes as Queen Elizabeth for the third season of The Crown, but she’s keeping that information under wraps—for now. “I know who’s doing it, but I’m not telling you,” she playfully told reporters. She added, “It’s really exciting and great and amazing.” The first season of The Crown beautifully captured the early years of Queen Elizabeth II, portraying her as a young woman in her 20s navigating the complexities of royal life. The upcoming second season will continue her journey into her 30s. However, at 33 years old, Claire felt it was time to step aside for Season 3, acknowledging that she’s simply too young to convincingly portray the Queen as she enters the 1970s.

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Why the Casting Change Makes Sense

Claire has always known her time with the show would be limited to two seasons. “I always knew from the get-go that I was only going to be doing two [seasons],” she explained in a previous interview. “I’m just very grateful that I have had such a wonderful time playing that part and made friends for life.” Showrunner Peter Morgan echoed this sentiment, stating, “I feel that when we reach 1963-64, we’ve gone as far as we can go with Claire Foy without having to resort to silly makeup tricks to make her look older.” Alongside Claire, Matt Smith, who plays Prince Philip, and Vanessa Kirby, who portrays Princess Margaret, will also be replaced by new actors for the third season. This change ensures the authenticity and realism that The Crown is known for.

Part of this post was written by Katie Rosseinsky. It originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.

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