A new season of “The Crown” is here, and this time the cast is getting an overhaul. The Netflix series refreshes its ensemble every two seasons, and Season 5 is the third and final time a new set of actors steps into the roles (and they’ll fill them once again for Season 6). This season of the historical fiction drama series covers the 1990s, particularly the demise of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage and the dwindling reputation of the monarchy. So who fills the roles that have brought Emmys to a handful of actors previously?
Check out our complete “The Crown” Season 5 cast and character guide below.
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II
The Oscar-nominated Staunton takes over the role of Queen Elizabeth from Olivia Colman, who herself took over from Claire Foy in the show’s first two seasons. You know Staunton as Dolores Umbridge in the “Harry Potter” franchise, but her vast and accomplished career runs the gamut from “Sense and Sensibility” to “Vera Drake” to the first “Downton Abbey” movie.
Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip
Pryce takes over the Prince Philip role from Tobias Menzies in Seasons 3 and 4 and Matt Smith in Seasons 1 and 2. Recently, the Tony Award-winning actor gained prominence on “Game of Thrones” but his filmography also includes the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, “Brazil” and “Tomorrow Never Dies,” and he was Oscar-nominated for his performance in 2019’s “The Two Popes.”
Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
Manville fills the role of Princess Margaret, the Queen’s sister, taking over for Helena Bonham Carter and Vanessa Kirby. Oscar-nominated for her turn in “Phantom Thread,” Manville is also known for “Vera Drake,” “Another Year” and “Topsy-Turvy.”
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana
Taking over for Emma Corrin who played the Princess of Wales in Season 4, Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana in Season 5 which covers her split from Prince Charles, the Martin Bashir interview and much more. Debicki is known for roles in “The Great Gatsby,” “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and “Tenet” and played the villain Ayesha in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”
Dominic West as Prince Charles
Dominic West plays Prince Charles, heir to the throne, following in the footsteps of Josh O’Connor from Season 3 and Season 4. West is best known for “The Wire,” “The Affair” and films like “Tomb Raider” and “John Carter.”
Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles
Olivia Williams is set as Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Charles’ longtime lover, played by Emerald Fennell in Season 3 and Season 4. Williams is known for films like “Rushmore” and “An Education” and starred in the Starz series “Counterpart.”
Jonny Lee Miller as John Major
There’s a new Prime Minister in Season 5, John Major, and he’s played by Jonny Lee Miller of “Trainspotting” and “Hackers” fame. Miller also starred on the CBS series “Elementary” as Sherlock Holmes.
James Murray as Prince Andrew
The role of Prince Andrew in these final two seasons is filled by James Murray, who is best known for the TV series “Primeval” and “McDonald & Dodds” and also starred in Michael Bay’s “6 Underground.”
Natasha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull
Penny Knatchbull, wife of Lord Romsey who is second cousin of Prince Charles, became a close companion of Prince Philip’s later in life, and that relationship is documented in Season 5. McElhone is best known for “The Truman Show,” “Californication” and “Designated Survivor.”
Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed
Dodi Fayed, who becomes a romantic partner to Princess Diana right before her death, is introduced in Season 5 as played by Khalid Abdalla, who starred in “Moon Knight” and the documentary “The Square.”
Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed
Dodi Fayed’s father, who is enamored of the royal family, is played by Salim Daw, who starred in the FX series “Tyrant.”
Prasanna Puwanarajah as Martin Bashir
Journalist Martin Bashir, whose televised interview with Princess Diana sends shockwaves throughout the royal family, is portrayed by Prasanna Puwanarajah, who played the same role in the 2013 film “Diana” starring Naomi Watts.
Timothy Dalton as Peter Townsend
Peter Townsend, the man Margaret had hoped to marry, makes a return in Season 5 as played by Timothy Dalton of James Bond fame. Townsend was played by Ben Miles in Season 1 and Season 2.
Humayun Saeed as Dr. Hasnat Khan
During her split from Prince Charles, Diana was seeing a doctor by the name of Hasnat Khan between 1995 and 1997. He’s portrayed here by Humayun Saeed, who has starred in a number of Pakistani TV shows and films including “Bin Roye” and “Main Hoon Shahid Afridi.”
Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair
Prime Minister Tony Blair shows up late in the season as portrayed by Bertie Carvel, a Tony-winning stage actor who played Rupert Murdoch in “Ink” and Miss Trunchbull in “Matilda the Musical.” He is also well known for playing Jonathan Strange in “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell” and also played Banquo in the 2021 film “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”