Imelda Staunton to play the Queen in fifth and final season of The Crown

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Netflix's The Crown will be coming to an end a little sooner than anticipated, but we finally have word on who will be playing the final incarnation of Queen Elizabeth II. It was announced today that Imelda Staunton (DOWNTON ABBEY) will be playing the role in what will be the fifth and final season of the Netflix series.

The first two seasons of The Crown starred Claire Foy (THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB) as Elizabeth and Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as Philip, with the third and fourth seasons starring Olivia Colman (THE FAVOURITE) and Tobias Menzies (Outlander) in those roles. Peter Morgan, creator and executive producer of The Crown, said that the fifth season will bring the series into the 2000s. "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," Morgan said. "Imelda is an astonishing talent and will be a fantastic successor to Claire Foy and Olivia Colman." Production on the fourth season has already begun, and the original plan was for the series to run six seasons, but Morgan added that once work began on breaking the stories for season five, "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." In her own statement, Imelda Staunton said:

I have loved watching ‘The Crown’ from the very start. As an actor it was a joy to see how both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman brought something special and unique to Peter Morgan’s scripts. I am genuinely honoured to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking ‘The Crown’ to its conclusion.

Cindy Holland, VP of original content for Netflix, added: "The first three seasons of ‘The Crown’ defined an era, and I know the upcoming fourth season will build further on that success. It’s a stunning example of award-winning entertainment, created in the U.K. 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." The third season of The Crown is now streaming on Netflix.