Stars Who Have Played Royals in Movies and TV Shows

Royal families have been captivating people around the world for centuries, whether it be real-life kings and queens or dazzling portrayals of them in movies and TV shows.

The Crown has perhaps become the most well-known depiction of the British royal family since it premiered on Netflix in 2016, with Claire Foy and Matt Smith playing Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, respectively. By the time season 3 rolled around, Olivia Colman assumed the role of the monarch, while Tobias Menzies took over as the Duke of Edinburgh. The historical drama also stars Helena Bonham Carter as the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, the eldest child of Elizabeth and Philip.

Through the years, countless Hollywood heavyweights have stepped into the shoes of royalty on the big screen too.

Naomi Watts portrayed the late Princess Diana in the 2013 biographical drama Diana, but she did not receive the critical acclaim that The Crown has. Instead, she was nominated for worst actress at the Razzie Awards.

Helen Mirren had much better fortune seven years earlier when she tried on Elizabeth’s crown in The Queen. The role landed the dame an Oscar for best actress — and an invitation to Buckingham Palace by the sovereign herself. She reprised the part in the 2013 West End production of The Audience.

“The world [that the royals] live in is so beyond our understanding,” Mirren, who calls herself a “queenist” and not a “monarchist,” told The New York Times in 2015. “You’ve never queued for anything. Ever, for anything. Every time you go in the street, the traffic is stopped for you. It’s a world you can’t imagine. They are, in a way, aliens. But inside that, they are the same flawed, insecure, vulnerable, complicated human beings we are.”

Scroll down to see more stars who have played royals!


Emma Corrin (Princess Diana, ‘The Crown’)

The British actress had the honor of being the first to play Diana on The Crown, making her debut in season 4.  

Shutterstock; Des Willie/Netflix
Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II, ‘The Crown’)

For her portrayal of a young Elizabeth II, the English actress has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a SAG Award, among others.

Everett/Shutterstock; Robert Viglasky/Netflix
Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth II, ‘The Crown’)

After taking over for Foy, the Fleabag star won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award.

Joan Williams/Shutterstock; Sophie Mutevelian/Netflix
Naomi Watts (Princess Diana, ‘Diana’)

The Australian star recreated the final two years of the Princess of Wale’s life before her 1997 death.

Tim Rooke/Shutterstock; Ecosse/Kobal/Shutterstock
Colin Firth (King George VI, ‘The King’s Speech’)

The Kingsman star won an Oscar for best actor for playing the late king, who stammered when he spoke.

Everett/Shutterstock; Weinstein Co/Uk Film Council/See Saw/Kobal/Shutterstock
Helen Mirren (Queen Elizabeth II, ‘The Queen’)

Senior aides applauded Mirren for her accurate portrayal of Elizabeth II. However, she was unable to have dinner with the real-life queen in London in 2007 due to work commitments.

Rhuary Grant/Shutterstock; Pathe/Kobal/Shutterstock
Helena Bonham Carter (Princess Margaret, ‘The Crown’)

Like Foy and Colman, the Harry Potter star won a SAG Award for her work on the Netflix series.

Reginald Davis/Shutterstock;Des Willie/Netflix
Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret, ‘The Crown’)

For the fifth and final season of the Netflix series, Manville will take over the role of Margaret from Bonham Carter.

Shutterstock (2)
Cate Blanchett (Queen Elizabeth I, ‘Elizabeth’)

The Oscar winner became a household name after playing Elizabeth I in the 1998 drama and its 2007 sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock; Greg Williams/Universal/Studio Canal/Working Title/Kobal/Shutterstock
Matt Smith (Prince Philip, ‘The Crown’)

The former athlete scored an Emmy nomination in 2018 for his portrayal of a young Philip.

Reginald Davis/Shutterstock; Robert Viglasky/Netflix
Tobias Menzies (Prince Philip, ‘The Crown’)

Since joining the Crown cast in 2019, the Outlander alum has won a SAG Award and received nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards.

AP/Shutterstock; Des Willie/Netflix
Judi Dench (Queen Elizabeth I, ‘Shakespeare in Love’)

The dame won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a SAG Award for her role in the 1998 classic.

Universal History Archive/UIG/Shutterstock; Miramax/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
Leonardo DiCaprio (King Louis XIV, ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’)

In one of his lesser known roles, the celebrated actor played Louis the Great in the 1998 action drama.

Alfredo Dagli Orti/Shutterstock; Moviestore/Shutterstock
Saoirse Ronan (Mary, Queen of Scots, ‘Mary Queen of Scots’)

The young actress landed SAG Award and BAFTA Award nominations for her part in the 2018 flick.

Historia/Shutterstock; Liam Daniel/Focus Features/Kobal/Shutterstock
Margot Robbie (Queen Elizabeth I, ‘Mary Queen of Scots’)

The I, Tonya star portrayed the cousin of Ronan’s title character.

Universal History Archive/UIG/Shutterstock; Focus Features/Moviestore/Shutterstock
Josh O’Connor (Prince Charles, ‘The Crown’)

The English actor took home his very first SAG Award for starring as the Prince of Wales.

Reginald Davis/Shutterstock; Des Willie/Netflix
Eric Bana (King Henry VIII, ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’)

The Black Hawk Down star expressed surprise after being offered the royal role in the 2008 drama.

Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock; Alex Bailey/Bbc/Focus Features/Kobal/Shutterstock

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