The show, “The Crown” has been captivating audiences since 2016, transporting viewers back in time while showcasing a behind the scenes look into the royal family and all of their political rivalries and love triangles. Season four was just released on Nov. 15, and the spotlight has been on Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana, ever since.
Each season usually takes place over a decade, starting with a young Queen Elizabeth II in the 1940s, and as of season four the show has now reached up until 1990. Every two seasons an entire new crew is cast to play these characters through the decades.
Fans of the show and even people who have never seen it before are being drawn to watch all because of newcomer Emma Corrin’s ability to embody Princess Diana’s mannerisms, looks, and speech to a tee.
Corrin had a dialect coach teach her how to nail Princess Diana’s accent, noting that Princess Diana typically ends every last word softer and filled with a kind of sadness as if the last syllable lost a note and disappeared. She also learned how to change her posture and mannerisms.
Noting that Princess Diana’s hair was a big part of the character’s look. Corrin said, “It’s something that gave her some distance from the world. . It’s a protective thing. The way Diana looks out from under her hair is also playful, though. It’s both a barrier and an invitation. It’s, look at me; don’t look at me,” according to Vulture.
Tal Skloot is an award winning film-maker and lecturer at Sonoma State University who teaches the class, 21st Century Television as Art. After asking him about his personal opinions on ‘The Crown’ and the hype surrounding Corrin he said, “I think the casting is crucial to authentically tell the story. Since it is based on true events, the whole world knows these characters. I was shocked when I saw Emma Corrin because she was such a perfect match for Diana. And in fact, casting Gillain Anderson as Margarert Thatcher is a stroke of brilliance – she is so believable in the role,” continued Skloot.
Season four took full advantage of the ‘80s time period. The show was usually serious in tone, but with Princess Diana’s ability to quite literally shake up the royals it also allowed for the show to adapt and change and showcase a more modern time period. The ‘80s is known for music, and showrunner Peter Morgan took advantage of this by incorporating songs from artists like Stevie Nicks, Duran Duran, Blondie, and The Cure, which allowed him to capture the rebelliousness of those artists along with Princess Diana’s demeanor.
Each decade as music tastes shift so does fashion. In the past costume designer, Amy Roberts, won an Emmy for her work on season 3 of “The Crown.” Roberts was faced with creating costumes that very closely resembled those worn by Princess Diana, the same clothes that sparked international trends, especially wedding dress trends. “What do I remember? What do you think about? The sleeves, the bigness of that, and that huge, long, great train. That’s what I have to achieve,” said Roberts according to Elle.
