‘It was historical drama and now it’s plunged into the present’: The Crown star Helena Bonham Carter says show ‘shouldn’t go ahead’
Helena Bonham Carter has said she doesn’t think Netflix drama The Crown, in which she starred in two series, should continue.
The actress, who played Princess Margaret in series three and four, explained that Peter Morgan’s royal drama has now caught up to more recent times and should come to an end.
Speaking to The Guardian, Helena was asked if she thought Prince Harry’s latest book Spare it would make Morgan “easier” to write The Crown now that he has a first-hand account of recent royal drama.
The ending: Helena Bonham Carter has said she doesn’t think Netflix drama The Crown, in which she starred in two series, should continue
“I should be careful here, but I don’t think they should really go ahead,” replied Helena, who succeeded Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret.
“I’m in and I’ve loved my episodes, but now it’s very different. When The Crown began it was a historical drama, and now it has plunged into the present. But that’s up to them.’
Helena added that she didn’t want to “add in” to the conversation surrounding Prince Harry’s book, calling it “complicated” and adding that her words were “taken out of context”. And I think enough attention has been paid.’
The role of Princess Margaret was assumed by Lesley Manville in season four, which was released in November 2020.
Star: The actress, who played Princess Margaret in series three and four, explained that Peter Morgan’s royal drama has now caught up to more recent times and is set to come to an end
In 2020, Helena said The Crown has a “moral responsibility” to remind viewers not to watch a documentary, telling the show’s official podcast: “It’s dramatized.”
“I feel very strong because I think we have a moral responsibility to say hang in there guys, it’s not a drama document, we’re making a drama. They are different entities.’
However, she commended Morgan for his “amazing” research, adding: “That’s the right documentary. That’s amazing, and then Peter changes things up and juggles.’
Portrayal: Helena played Princess Margaret for two seasons of the Netflix show (Right: Princess Margaret)
Over the years, Vanessa Kirby played the role for seasons one and two (right: arriving at a state banquet at the Australian Embassy in London in 1966).
In October, Morgan hit back at critics who accused the Netflix series of “exploiting” the royal family in its latest series.
The award-winning British screenwriter, 59, defended his show, which dramatized the collapse of King Charles and Diana’s marriage in series five, while the late royals’ tragic death in 1997 will be a plot in the forthcoming sixth series.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Peter admitted the latest season doesn’t shy away from the royal family’s “difficult time” in the 1990s.
Describing how King Charles will “almost certainly have painful memories” of that time, the screenwriter said, “That doesn’t mean the story will be unkind to him or the monarchy in hindsight.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Debicki – who plays Diana in the new series – insisted the storylines were handled with “sensitivity”.
She added, “Peter and the entire crew on this job do their best to really treat everything with such sensitivity, truth and complexity as the actors do.”
New Cast: The role of Princess Margaret was assumed by Lesley Manville in season four, which premiered in November 2020