"I am beyond excited and honoured to be joining The Crown for its fourth season"

St John’s alumna Emma Corrin has been cast as Princess Diana in season four of The Crown.

The critically acclaimed Netflix drama follows the political rivalries and royal scandals of the reign of The Queen. It has received more than 15 international awards for the cast and crew including the Golden Globe for Best Television Series.

Each season of the drama covers several years of the Queen’s life beginning with her father’s death and her subsequent coronation at the age of 25 in 1947. There is a high level of secrecy surrounding the content of season four, which will be filmed later this year and will air in 2020 but it is believed that it will cover the events of the late 1970s when Prince Charles met Princess Diana – they married in 1981.

^{Emma Corrin. Photo credit: Faye Thomas}

"Emma is a brilliant talent who immediately captivated us when she came in for the part of Diana Spencer"

Responding to the announcement Corrin, who studied Education, English and Drama at St John’s from 2015-2018, said: “I am beyond excited and honoured to be joining The Crown for its fourth season. I have been glued to the show since the first episode and to think I’m now joining this incredibly talented acting family is just surreal.

“Princess Diana was an icon, and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To be given the chance to explore her through Peter Morgan’s writing is the most exceptional opportunity, and I will strive to do her justice.”

Corrin joins a cast which includes Josh O’Conner as Prince Charles and is believed to include Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher.

Netflix have not yet confirmed who will be cast as Queen Elizabeth II or Prince Philip for season four but it is thought Oscar-winning Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies, who play the royal couple in season three, will continue in their roles. Others featured in season three who may follow suit include Helena Bonham Carter who plays Princess Margaret, and Jeremy Northam who plays Anthony Eden.

During Corrin’s time at St John’s she was involved in 20 student theatrical productions in Cambridge including playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Philadelphia, Here I Come! and The House of Bernada Alba. She was also Artistic Director and an ensemble cast member in a production of Mojo, a play written by another graduate of St John’s, Jez Butterworth.

After graduation Corrin continued her acting and gained roles in Cambridge-based TV drama Grantchester and the upcoming feature film Misbehaviour. Later this year she will also be seen in the Warner Brothers series Pennyworth which chronicles the story of former SAS Soldier Alfred Pennyworth – better known as the butler to Bruce Wayne in the Batmen series.

The Crown was written by Peter Morgan, who also wrote the 2013 film The Queen and the stage play The Audience, both of which starred Helen Mirren in the role of Elizabeth II. Speaking of Emma’s casting he said: “Emma is a brilliant talent who immediately captivated us when she came in for the part of Diana Spencer.

“As well as having the innocence and beauty of a young Diana, she also has, in abundance, the range and complexity to portray an extraordinary woman who went from anonymous teenager to becoming the most iconic woman of her generation.”

It is expected that season three of The Crown will be on Netflix later this year.

Published: 10/04/19

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