Olivia Colman takes over the role of Queen Elizabeth II in Season 3 of The Crown. The series recasts its principal characters approximately every two seasons so the actors can reflect the royal family at different ages and stages of life. Claire Foy plays Elizabeth in Seasons 1 and 2, while Colman portrays the monarch in Seasons 3 and 4.
Colman’s version of Elizabeth covers the period from 1964 to 1977, including Harold Wilson’s premiership, the Aberfan disaster, the Apollo 11 landing, Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales, and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Her performance earned major awards, including a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy.
A common mix-up is confusing the season number with the historical period. Season 3 begins in 1964, but Colman was announced for both Seasons 3 and 4. Imelda Staunton later succeeded her in Season 5, continuing the show’s two-season casting pattern.