Royal Treatment

Having made the move from stage to TV, The Crown actress Vanessa Kirby is set to take on the big screen in her latest role. She talks about her time as Princess Margaret and where we’ll see her next.

- Julia Braybrook

Opulent, detailed and fascinating, The Crown is the Netflix series that’s on everyone’s binge-watch list – and if it isn’t on yours, it really should be. But for a series that’s all about the Queen, it’s Princess Margaret who had everyone talking – thanks to her portrayal by rising star Vanessa Kirby.

“You could actually do 10 hours [of the series] on Margaret because she’s so fascinating,” says Vanessa. “There’s so much to her, and she’s such an interesting character. I know that parts like this hardly ever come along.”

To prepare for her royal debut on The Crown, the London-based actress read countless biographies and stuck photos of the princess all around her flat.

“I’ve still got her picture on my wall and one in my loo!” she says. “I’d just look at it and think, ‘Come on Marg, tell me how to be you!’” She also created playlists of Princess Margaret’s favourite music. “My poor sister, who lives with me, had to put up with so many bagpipes. I wanted to immerse myself in her world and what she loved, more than anything.” All her hard work culminated in Vanessa being awarded Best Supporting Actress for her role at this year’s Bafta TV awards, marking the first major Bafta win for The Crown.

ON THE RISE