WAR OF THE WALESES: "WE WERE ROYALLY CHALLENGED’

DOMINIC WEST, ELIZABETH DEBICKI AND IMELDA STAUNTON ON TACKLING TOUGH TIMES FOR THE MONARCHY IN THE CROWN

- RHONA MERCER

It has been a TV obsession since it first hit screens in 2016 and with the fifth season of hugely successful - and often controversial - Netflix show The Crown arriving, it seems only right to catch up with the stars who will be playing our favourite royals.

In this series, which covers 1991 to 1997, the national treasure that is Imelda Staunton takes over from Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, while Dominic West steps into the role of Prince Charles that was previously played by Josh O'Connor and Elizabeth Debicki replaces Emma Corrin as Princess Diana.

When we speak to the cast ahead of the launch, 53-year-old Dominic tells us how intimidated he was by co-star Elizabeth and describes their first day at work as "the worst day of my life".

"I was terrified," he admits. "I remember the first camera test we did, in July, it was the worst day of my life. She came in looking just like Princess Di and sounding just like Princess Di, and I walked in dressed up as Charles. I don't look anything like him and I don't really sound anything like him either. I don't move like him. I've got little legs like him but other than that, that's it. So I was standing there waiting for my test, watching the screen where Elizabeth was walking down a corridor and I went, 'Oh my God, it's amazing, it's uncanny." "It was so bad. I just thought I could hear the crew going, 'Oh, he's been slightly miscast, hasn't he? They got Diana right but I'm not sure about him [laughs]."" Luckily for the star of The Wire, Elizabeth, 32, didn't share his dim view. She says, "The thing about Dom is he's so talented, as annoying as it is to admit that.