Imelda Staunton to play Queen Elizabeth II in final season of The Crown

EW has confirmed that Imelda Staunton will take over the role of Queen Elizabeth II for season 5 of Netflix’s The Crown. The part is currently played by Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. It has also been announced that historical drama will conclude with the fifth run of episodes.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to confirm Imelda Staunton as Her Majesty The Queen for the fifth and final season, taking The Crown into the 21st Century,” said the show’s creator and writer Peter Morgan in a statement. “Imelda is an astonishing talent and will be a fantastic successor to Claire Foy and Olivia Colman. At the outset I had imagined The Crown running for six seasons but now that we have begun work on the stories for season 5 it has become clear to me that this is the perfect time and place to stop. I’m grateful to Netflix and Sony for supporting me in this decision.”

“The Crown defined an era, and I know the upcoming fourth season will build further on that success.” said Cindy Holland, VP, Original Content, Netflix. “It’s a stunning example of award-winning entertainment, created in the UK and loved by millions of fans around the world. I fully support Peter Morgan’s creative decision and am excited to see how he, Imelda Staunton and the cast and crew of season 5, bring this landmark series to a fitting and spectacular end.”

Staunton’s credits include the 2004 film Vera Drake and the Harry Potter franchise, in which she played Dolores Umbridge.

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