Where You've Seen The Cast Of The Crown Before

Imelda Staunton, who plays Queen Elizabeth II on Seasons 5 and 6 of "The Crown," follows up superb performances in the same role from Claire Foy and Olivia Colman. In an interview on the BBC's "Woman's Hour," Staunton remarked, "I think my sort of extra challenge, as if I needed it, is that I'm now doing the Queen that we're a little more familiar with." Moreover, Staunton's tenure encompasses some of the most turbulent times of the queen's entire reign. But if anyone is capable of shouldering this immense task, it's her.

Staunton has appeared in a wide variety of productions over the years. She's instantly recognizable to millions of "Harry Potter" fans as Dolores Umbridge, the odious Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Beyond this, she's best known for her roles in smash-hit period films like "Shakespeare in Love," "Sense and Sensibility," and "Downton Abbey." On the small screen, she's enjoyed leading parts on major television series, such as "Return to Cranford" and "The Girl." Staunton has also had a glittering stage career, highlighted by major roles in legendary musicals such as "Gypsy" and "Sweeney Todd" (via London Theatre).

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, is a dazzlingly multifaceted character. Sister to the queen, her wild actions and statements cause no end of controversy. Vanessa Kirby plays the character in Seasons 1 and 2, while Helena Bonham Carter takes over for Seasons 3 and 4. Lesley Manville, who portrays this poignant figure in Seasons 5 and 6, is the last performer to step into the princess' shoes.

A widely celebrated actor, Manville's filmography is studded with some of the past few decades' best films. She's enjoyed roles in high-profile movies like "Phantom Thread," "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," and "Another Year." On the small screen, she's played leads in successful series including "Mum" and "River." Younger viewers might recognize her as Flittle, a feather-headed fairy from "Maleficent" and its sequel, "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil." Notably, that role puts her together with former Queen Elizabeth II actress Imelda Staunton — and it's not the only one. Staunton and Manville also co-starred in the celebrated drama "Vera Drake."

Erin Doherty plays the no-nonsense Princess Anne in Seasons 3 and 4, and is succeeded by Claudia Harrison. Although Anne's role is relatively minor, especially compared to her eldest brother, she becomes more and more important as she takes on greater duties. As Anne contributed to the queen's "annus horribilis" by divorcing Captain Mark Phillips in 1992, Seasons 5 and 6 are even more eventful for the character.

Harrison may not be familiar to international audiences, as most of her on-screen roles have come in British productions. Since making her debut in the 2000 series "Attachments," she has landed guest appearances in dozens of shows, including "Little Britain," "New Tricks," and "The IT Crowd." Harrison was a regular on the BBC crime drama "Murphy's Law," portraying Anne Guthrie opposite James Nesbitt in the television series and associated film. More recently, Harrison has enjoyed recurring roles on sci-fi series "Humans" and comedy-drama "Delicious."

Despite his seniority in the royal family, Prince Andrew is a relatively minor character on "The Crown." Tom Byrne, who portrays the character in Season 4, still manages to make an impact, however, with his vivid performance as a young royal growing more and more self-satisfied. James Murray takes over the role in Seasons 5 and 6, which encompass a particularly turbulent period in the prince's life.

Over the course of his impressive career, Murray has appeared in dozens of television shows and films. His first major screen role came in 1998, when he appeared on five episodes of the long-running soap opera "Coronation Street." After that, he became a regular on British TV screens as part of the main cast of shows like "Primeval," "Defiance," and "Cucumber." In 2020, he enjoyed particular success as John Houseman on the celebrated crime drama "McDonald & Dodds."

Camilla Parker Bowles is an incredibly important character on "The Crown." Emerald Fennell plays her in Seasons 3 and 4, which showcase her complex relationship with Prince Charles. Olivia Williams takes over the role in Seasons 5 and 6, which chronicle Prince Charles' deteriorating marriage and the role Camilla plays in it.

Williams rose to fame as Jane Fairfax in the ITV television film "Emma." She went on to join the cast of "Rushmore" and "The Sixth Sense," which majorly increased her fame. More recently, Williams has earned acclaim as Emily Silk on the sci-fi thriller series "Counterpart" and Ruth Lang in "The Ghost Writer." Notably, Williams has worked with Olivia Colman, who plays Queen Elizabeth II in Seasons 3 and 4 of "The Crown": The pair played sisters in the 2017 play "Mosquitoes," and also appear together in the award-winning film "The Father."

Previously played by Ben Miles, Peter Townsend is portrayed by Timothy Dalton from Season 5 onward. The former equerry to King George VI and the queen, he becomes romantically involved with Princess Margaret in Seasons 1 and 2. The pair even plan on getting married, before they're persuaded to abandon the idea due to the controversy it would cause.

Dalton is probably best known as James Bond: He portrays the fictional spy in "The Living Daylights" and "Licence to Kill." Beyond that, he's well-known for his performances in films like "The Lion in Winter," "Hot Fuzz," and "The Rocketeer." Dalton's small screen career is just as impressive, and spans an enormous variety of genres. Some of his most notable modern roles include Rassilon on sci-fi series "Doctor Who," the Chief on avant-garde superhero saga "Doom Patrol," and Sir Malcolm Murray on horror drama "Penny Dreadful."

Emma Laird Craig plays Sarah, Duchess of York in Seasons 5 and 6 of "The Crown." The character goes through a highly publicized divorce with Prince Andrew, and is involved in a number of other events that contribute to the queen's "annus horribilis." Today, she remains a fixture of the British tabloids and is an avid philanthropist (per Marie Claire.)

Craig is a relative newcomer to the screen, having only a few small roles to her name. She had a role in the TV movie "Casting Nina" and made a minor appearance in the long-running British soap opera "EastEnders" as a paramedic. Perhaps most notably, she played Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter's beloved Transfiguration professor, in "Minerva and the Wicked Heist," a short fan film. Craig might not have as many credits to her name as other actors on "The Crown," but she's certainly the only one to have starred as that iconic educator.

Tony Blair, the Labour Party leader and eventual Prime Minister, makes his entrance into "The Crown" in Season 5. He played a pivotal role in the British political landscape of the 1990s, as you might imagine. He was also in charge when Princess Diana died, and memorably eulogized her as "the people's princess" (via The New York Times). Suffice it to say, a role like this requires a capable actor. That capable actor is Bertie Carvel.

Like much of the cast, Carvel is familiar to British audiences, but less well-known internationally. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he has twice won the Laurence Olivier Award for his performances in "Matilda the Musical" and "Ink." On the silver screen, Carvel has only played two roles: Bamatabois in 2012's "Les Misérables" and Banquo in 2021's "The Tragedy of Macbeth." He's considerably busier on the small screen, however, where he's appeared on "Doctor Who," "Sherlock," and "The Crimson Petal and the White." Recently, he earned impressive acclaim for his performance as Jonathan Strange on "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell."