scorecard
  1. Home
  2. entertainment
  3. news
  4. How actors who've played Queen Elizabeth compare to the real-life monarch

How actors who've played Queen Elizabeth compare to the real-life monarch

How actors who've played Queen Elizabeth compare to the real-life monarch
Helen Mirren in "The Queen."Pathé Pictures
  • Queen Elizabeth has been portrayed in roughly 100 films and TV shows, according to IMDb.
  • Freya Wilson played a young Princess Elizabeth in "The King's Speech."
  • Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson, both appointed dames by the Queen, have taken on the iconic role.

Freya Wilson played a very young Princess Elizabeth in "The King's Speech."

Freya Wilson played a very young Princess Elizabeth in "The King
Freya Wilson played Elizabeth, while Ramona Marquez played her younger sister, Margaret.      The Weinstein Company

"The King's Speech," which won four Oscars in 2011, centered around Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI.

Here's Princess Elizabeth in 1933, before she became queen.

Here
A young Queen Elizabeth in 1933.      AP

Wilson's curled hair and ruffled outfit created an accurate portrayal of the future queen.

Sarah Gadon played a teenage Princess Elizabeth in "A Royal Night Out."

Sarah Gadon played a teenage Princess Elizabeth in "A Royal Night Out."
Sarah Gadon.      Lionsgate Films

It's based on the true story of when the princess covertly partied with commoners the night World War II ended.

Gadon resembled then-Princess Elizabeth, who was a truck mechanic and driver for the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a women's branch of the British Army.

Gadon resembled then-Princess Elizabeth, who was a truck mechanic and driver for the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a women
Princess Elizabeth in uniform in 1945.      AP

In the bizarre World War II parody film "Churchill: The Hollywood Years," Neve Campbell also played Princess Elizabeth.

In the bizarre World War II parody film "Churchill: The Hollywood Years," Neve Campbell also played Princess Elizabeth.
Neve Campbell.      Pathe Pictures

Campbell is known for her roles in the "Scream" movies, and she most recently appeared in Justin Baldoni's tear-jerker "Clouds."

The real royal also wore tiaras and sashes with ball gowns in her youth.

The real royal also wore tiaras and sashes with ball gowns in her youth.
Queen Elizabeth.      Keystone/Getty Images

The Crown Jewels, dating back to the 1600s, are on display at the Tower of London.

In the first two seasons of Netflix's "The Crown," Claire Foy portrayed Elizabeth in the early days of her reign.

In the first two seasons of Netflix
Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II.      Netflix/IMDb

Here's how the rest of the cast compares to the real-life royals they portray.

Foy strongly resembled Queen Elizabeth when she took the throne at age 25.

Foy strongly resembled Queen Elizabeth when she took the throne at age 25.
Queen Elizabeth at 25 years old.      Associated Press

"The Crown" recreated Queen Elizabeth's coronation outfit in painstaking detail.

Olivia Colman also played the Queen for two seasons of "The Crown."

Olivia Colman also played the Queen for two seasons of "The Crown."
Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth.      Liam Daniel/Netflix

Colman said it was one of her most difficult roles because "behind closed doors, we don't know what she's like," and that she was "quite pleased" to move on after playing the monarch for two seasons, according to Radio Times.

Colman embodied the Queen's stoic salute on horseback.

Colman embodied the Queen
Queen Elizabeth in 1985.      PA Images via Getty Images

The Queen saluted the Household Guards regiments during the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony in London, which marks her official birthday, in 1985.

Emma Thompson took on the role for an episode of the BBC series "Playhouse Presents."

Emma Thompson took on the role for an episode of the BBC series "Playhouse Presents."
Emma Thompson.      BBC

Thompson appeared in a fictional tale about an intruder breaking into the Queen's residence.

Thompson mastered Queen Elizabeth's facial expressions.

Thompson mastered Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth in 1977.      Serge Lemoine/Getty Images

The Queen appointed Thompson a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2018.

Jeannette Charles is a famous Queen Elizabeth lookalike.

Jeannette Charles is a famous Queen Elizabeth lookalike.
Jeannette Charles.      Evening Standard/Getty Images

She played the Queen for dozens of projects, including "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and "Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!"

Charles nailed Queen Elizabeth's outfits and mannerisms.

Charles nailed Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth in 1972.      AFP via Getty Images

From the hat to the brooch to the tailored suit, Charles looked just like Queen Elizabeth.

The UK's Channel 4 hired five actresses for "The Queen," a 2009 docu-drama about trying moments in Elizabeth's reign.

The UK
Barbara Flynn.      Channel 4

Barbara Flynn, Samantha Bond, Emilia Fox, Susan Jameson, and Diana Quick all took turns playing the monarch.

Barbara Flynn's portrayal of the Queen reenacted pivotal moments from her life in 1992, the year of her silver jubilee.

Barbara Flynn
Queen Elizabeth in 2018.      Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth would later refer to this year as her "annus horribilis" as it included three of her children's marriages ending in scandal and a fire that damaged Windsor Castle.

Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth in 2006's "The Queen," which tells the story of the royal family's response to Princess Diana's death in 1997.

Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth in 2006
Helen Mirren.      Pathé Pictures

Mirren has played both Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II.

From the hair to the glasses, Mirren's portrayal of the Queen was uncanny.

From the hair to the glasses, Mirren
Queen Elizabeth.      Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth appointed Mirren a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003.

Jane Alexander took a turn as the Queen in the Hallmark Channel's TV movie "William & Catherine: A Royal Romance."

Jane Alexander took a turn as the Queen in the Hallmark Channel
Jane Alexander.      Hallmark

The Hallmark movie chronicled Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story.

Alexander's perfectly coiffed hair, subtle makeup, and polished outfit reflected Queen Elizabeth's aesthetic.

Alexander
Queen Elizabeth in 2007.      POOL/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

The Hallmark film featured Queen Elizabeth offering Prince William and Middleton some royal advice.

"SNL" actor Fred Armisen played a bawdy, foul-mouthed version of the Queen in several sketches.

"SNL" actor Fred Armisen played a bawdy, foul-mouthed version of the Queen in several sketches.
Fred Armisen.      NBC

In a 2011 sketch, the Queen and her husband angrily confront newly married William and Kate.

"SNL" did get the Queen's lavender outfit and accessories just right.

"SNL" did get the Queen
Queen Elizabeth in 2017.      Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

The Queen is known for her bright, monochromatic suits.

Andy Samberg's tennis mockumentary "7 Days in Hell" featured June Squibb as a very intimidating version of Queen Elizabeth II.

Andy Samberg
June Squibb.      HBO

We're pretty sure the real Queen wouldn't flip the bird at Wimbledon, as depicted in the trailer.

The actual Queen Elizabeth behaves in a much more distinguished fashion.

The actual Queen Elizabeth behaves in a much more distinguished fashion.
Queen Elizabeth in 2017.      DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

Squibb's outfit, complete with pearls and an embellished hat, were reminiscent of the Queen's style.

Caroline Praderio contributed to an earlier version of this report.

READ MORE ARTICLES ON


Popular Right Now




Advertisement