Queen Elizabeth II Death: Actresses Who Played The British Monarch

Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch of Britain and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. 

Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch of Britain and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96.  ( Image Source :Twitter )

New Delhi: Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch of Britain and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. 

"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. 

"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," the statement added. 

The entertainment industry was always fascinated by the Queen’s life and her charisma. Multiple projects were made depicting her fascinating life – from documentaries to shows to films. In Netflix’s popular series ‘The Crown’, three actresses played Queen Elizabeth to portray different stages of her life. Claire Foy in seasons one and two, Olivia Colman in seasons three and four, and Imelda Staunton for the last two seasons. 

Here is a list of a few actresses who succeeded in capturing the monarch’s essence on screen: 

Helen Mirren in 'The Queen’

On the top of the list is undoubtedly Helen Mirren for her excellent portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in 2006 film ‘The Queen’. The film revolves around the aftermath of Princess Diana’s tragic death. Helen won an Oscar for the film. Not only that, the Queen herself praised Mirren’s performance and invited her for dinner at Buckingham Palace. She also reprised her role in the Broadway production The Audience. 

Olivia Colman in ‘The Crown’

British actor Olivia Colman depicted the Queen’s life in her 40s, 50s, and 60s in Netflix’s series ‘The Crown’. The actress featured in the third and fourth seasons of the series and took over the role from Claire Foy. Her brilliant depiction of the Queen won her Emmy Award and Golden Globe. 

Claire Foy in 'The Crown'

Claire Foy became an overnight star after her portrayal of the younger version of the Queen. Her role showcased the monarch’s early years of ruling the UK, her marriage to Prince Philip, and the birth of her four children. She won an Emmy Award for her nuanced performance. 

Emma Thompson in 'Playhouse Presents'


The British series Playhouse features a different story in each episode. Emma Thompson, in one of the episodes of the show, gave a fine performance as the Queen. The episode was based on a real-life incident where a man with schizophrenia had entered Buckingham Palace to chat with the monarch. 

Sarah Gadon in 'A Royal Night Out’

Sarah Gadon played a teenage Princess Elizabeth in this 2015 British film. In the film, she escapes the royal guard and joins her sister Princess Margaret (played by Bel Powley). Sarah played the role perfectly and was able to emote a teenager. 

Jane Alexander in ‘William And Catherine: A Royal Romance’ 

Jane Alexander played the Queen in this 2011 film based on Prince William and Kate Middleton’s romance. 

Imelda Staunton in 'The Crown'


Though the fifth and sixth seasons of the series ‘The Crown’ are not out yet, Netflix had dropped Imelda Staunton's look as Queen Elizabeth for the final two seasons. The actress will portray the final stage of her life.