Imelda Staunton has admitted there’s “pressure from every angle” as she prepares to take over as the Queen in The Crown.
It was announced earlier this year that the actor will succeed Olivia Colman as the monarch in the fifth and sixth series of the hit Netflix drama.
Appearing on Wednesday’s edition of This Morning, Imelda spoke of the desire to live up to expectations as Elizabeth II.
“There’s pressure from every angle,” she told hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes. “I’m following two extraordinary actresses, but I’m also following one extraordinary human being, which is the Queen. Because she’s so much in a lot of our lives and we know how she looks and how she sounds.
“Of course I have to be like her as much as I can, but also I have to tell a story and a story of the day, whatever that is. Peter Morgan’s [The Crown writer] job is to do her backstage life, if you like – that’s where his writing comes in, and it’s so extraordinary.
“Because we’ve all got so much footage of the Queen doing her speeches and things like that, and I think the strength of The Crown has been going inside their private lives and making it as real as you can.”
Imelda confirmed that she is due to start filming in July, but has already begun preparing and will be watching the upcoming fourth seres closely when it debuts on Netflix next month.
She said: “I’m working on it now and listening to her, watching her, and my television will be on November 15 when Olivia starts, and I’ll be very excited and I’ll be terrified, but I’m so looking forward to watching it.
“Then I just have to take the baton and move on.”
Alongside Imelda as the Queen, Jonathan Pryce will succeed Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip in season five of The Crown.
Lesley Manville will be playing Princess Margaret, while it’s yet to be confirmed who will be appearing as Prince Charles, although reports have suggested Dominic West is in the frame for the role .
While fans are yet to see newcomer Emma Corrin in action as Princess Diana in series four, it has already been confirmed Elizabeth Debicki will succeed her in the role for the fifth series.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV, while season four of The Crown begins streaming on Netflix on 15 November.