Imelda Staunton is looking very regal in her first preview with The Crown.
The 65-year-old actress is playing Queen Elizabeth II in the upcoming season of the Netflix royal drama, and a first look at her portrayal was just released today!
The Crown previews Imelda Staunton's season 5 Queen
"An early glimpse of our new Queen Elizabeth II, Imelda Staunton," wrote the social media pages for The Crown. In the photo, Staunton gazes pensively in yellow as the Queen in middle age.
Staunton's portrayal of the Queen takes The Crown into the 1990s, a time when the monarch was in her late 60s and into her 70s. Following season 5, Staunton will also fill the lead role in the sixth and final season.
Justice for the Spencers
Charles Spencer Wins Legal Fight Against Claims He Abandoned Sister Princess Diana
The Crown season 5 cast: Imelda Staunton is Queen actress
Staunton, the acclaimed British screen and stage actress, takes over as the Queen in The Crown season 5 after Olivia Colman's strong two seasons in the role and Claire Foy's impressive two before that.
Season 5 doesn't have a release date just yet, but it's expected the series will break its pattern of one season per year due to pandemic delays. So we likely won't see season 5 until 2022.
The Crown was as popular — and controversial — as ever in season 4, as the series covered the early stages of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's relationship.
You can also click here to see Imelda Staunton discuss the challenges of portraying the Queen in the upcoming season.
See what she's done after the show!
Going for gold!
