Claire Foy plays Elizabeth, the princess who ascends to the throne at age 25.
When she accepted her Golden Globe for best actress in a drama, Foy wore a sparkling pink gown and showed off her new, lighter hair color.
Foy actually thanked the real Queen Elizabeth in her acceptance speech.
"I really, really, really wouldn't be here if it wasn't for some extraordinary women, and I'm going to thank them. One of them is Queen Elizabeth II," he said. "She has been at the center of the world for the past 63 years, and I think the world could do with a few more women at the center of it, if you ask me."
Source: Telegraph
Matt Smith plays Prince Philip, who marries Elizabeth when she's still a princess.
In real life, his hair is much darker.
Vanessa Kirby portrays Elizabeth's younger sister, Margaret, who's entangled in a forbidden romance.
Much like her co-star, Foy, Kirby has also gone blonde in real life.
Victoria Hamilton plays Elizabeth, the Queen Mother — mom to princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
On the red carpet for the premiere of "The Crown," Hamilton traded old-fashioned finger waves for a bold pixie cut.
Eileen Atkins plays Queen Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret's grandmother.
In real life, she's an accomplished stage actress who was named a Dame by the real queen in 2001.
Jared Harris plays King George VI, Elizabeth and Margaret's father. He was never supposed to be king, but had to step up to throne in 1937 when his older brother abdicated it.
Offscreen, Harris usually grows out his beard.
Alex Jennings plays King Edward VIII, the older brother to King George VI who famously gave up the crown in order to marry a divorced American socialite.
Jennings wears glasses in real life.
Former King Edward's American wife, Wallis Simpson, is portrayed by actress Lia Williams.
Her real-life red carpet looks are just a regal as her costumes in "The Crown."
Ben Miles plays Peter Townsend, an Air Force officer who falls love with a member of the royal family — despite the fact that he's married.
Miles doesn't look all that different from his character.
Greg Wise plays Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who served in the Royal Navy.
Wise also closely resembles his onscreen persona — though he once appeared on the red carpet in a kilt.
John Lithgow — the show's only American actor — plays prime minster Winston Churchill.
In real life, Lithgow is much slimmer — he had to wear a fat suit to portray the British politician.
Churchill's wife, Clementine, is portrayed by Harriet Walter.
Walter (who looks much younger in real life) was also named a Dame by the actual Queen.
Jeremy Northam plays Anthony Eden, the British politician who succeeded Churchill as Prime Minister.
The real Northam opts for a clean-shaven face and glasses.
