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Where is 'The Crown' season 1 cast today? Here's what Claire Foy, Matt Smith, and the other stars have been up to

Esme Mazzeo   

Where is 'The Crown' season 1 cast today? Here's what Claire Foy, Matt Smith, and the other stars have been up to
Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix's "The Crown."Netflix
  • Netflix's "The Crown" spans decades of the royal family's history.
  • Multiple actors have played the same person over the course of six seasons.

Because Netflix's "The Crown" jumps across decades to show the royal family's story, the actors who first appeared in the roles in season one have since been replaced as the characters aged.

After earning major Emmys love for their performances in the first season of "The Crown," many of the season one stars has gone on to act in other acclaimed projects. Some cast members have even reunited with each other on screen.

Here's what "The Crown" season one cast is up to today.

Claire Foy played young Queen Elizabeth II

Claire Foy played young Queen Elizabeth II
Claire Foy in September 2023 and as Queen Elizabeth II on "The Crown."      Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images; Netflix

Claire Foy played Queen Elizabeth II in "The Crown" seasons one and two. The Queen was just 25 years old when her father King George VI died and 27 when she took the oath to be queen on June 2, 1953.

Foy was nominated for an Emmy in the outstanding lead actress in a drama category for her performance in both years she led the series and won the award in 2018 for her performance in season two.

She also won an Emmy in 2021 for her cameo appearance as the younger Queen in the season four episode "48:1."

Foy will soon lead the British crime series "Marlow" and most recently had a role in the critically acclaimed film "All of Us Strangers."

Matt Smith played young Prince Philip

Matt Smith played young Prince Philip
Matt Smith in October 2023 and as Prince Philip on "The Crown."      Dave Benett/Getty Images/Netflix

Matt Smith played Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on seasons one and two of "The Crown." He earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in 2018.

The "Doctor Who" star has stayed busy since he aged out of his role in the historical drama. He portrayed photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the 2018 film "Mapplethorpe" and played infamous serial killer Charles Manson in "Charlie Says," also released in 2018.

Smith returned to Netflix in the 2020 horror drama "His House," about a refugee couple who escapes South Sudan only to settle in an English town where evil lurks.

He also appeared in the critically acclaimed film "Last Night in Soho"opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in 2021 and the 2022 Marvel movie "Morbius." Most recently, Smith starred in HBO's hit "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" as Prince Daemon Targaryen, which will return for its second season in 2024.

He'll next return to London's West End to star in an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's 1882 play "An Enemy of the People."

Vanessa Kirby played young Princess Margaret

Vanessa Kirby played young Princess Margaret
Vanessa Kirby in September 2023 and as Princess Margaret on "The Crown."      Peter White/Getty Images/Netflix

Vanessa Kirby received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II's sister Princess Margaret in 2018.

After playing the royal rebel, she appeared as The White Widow opposite Tom Cruise in two "Mission Impossible" movies, released in 2018 and 2023.

Kirby also received an Oscar nomination in 2021 in the lead actress category for her role in Netflix's "Pieces of a Woman."

She also reprised her role as Princess Margaret in "The Crown" in 2022 for season five.

Kirby most recently starred as Josephine Bonaparte, the first wife of Napoleon, in the 2023 biopic "Napoleon." She'll also appear in "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two," due out in 2025.

Jared Harris played King George VI

Jared Harris played King George VI
Jared Haris in October 2023 and as King George VI on season one of "The Crown."      Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images; Netflix

Jared Harris played King George VI on "The Crown" seasons one and two. After his death in season one, his daughter Elizabeth becomes queen.

Since season one of "The Crown," Harris led season one of the AMC horror-drama anthology series "The Terror" in 2018. He played Francis Crozier, an Irish Navy officer who suddenly disappeared in 1848.

He earned an Emmy nomination in 2019 for his role as Valery Legasov in HBO's limited series "Chernobyl," about the 1986 nuclear accident in the Soviet Union. He also appeared in Prime Video's acclaimed series "Carnival Row" in 2019 and appeared in the 2022 Marvel film "Morbius," which also starred Smith.

Harris most recently led the Apple TV+ series "Foundation," which is expected to return for its third season.

Victoria Hamilton played the Queen Mother

Victoria Hamilton played the Queen Mother
Victoria Hamilton in 2018 and as the Queen Mother on "The Crown."      David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Image; Netflix

English actor Victoria Hamilton played Queen Elizabeth's mother. She was also known as Queen Elizabeth before her daughter reigned and she became Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Since appearing in "The Crown," Hamilton has been featured in the hit HBO series "His Dark Materials" and starred in the Sky thriller series "Cobra."

John Lithgow played Winston Churchill

John Lithgow played Winston Churchill
John Lithgow in June 2023 and as former Prime Minister Winston Churchill on "The Crown."      Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images; Netflix

In 2017, John Lithgow won an Emmy for his role as Prime Minister Winston Churchill in season one of "The Crown." He reprised the role twice since, appearing in one episode of season two and one in season three.

Lithgow's decades-long career hasn't slowed down since departing "The Crown." He played the former CEO of Fox News, Roger Ailes, in the 2019 film "Bombshell." In 2021, he received another Emmy nomination for playing the supporting role of E.B. Jonathan in the 2020 HBO series "Perry Mason."

In 2021, Lithgow reprised his Emmy-winning role as Arthur Mitchell in the "Dexter" revival "Dexter: New Blood." He stars alongside Jeff Bridges in FX's critically-acclaimed series "The Old Man" and most recently appeared in 2023's "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Ben Miles played Peter Townsend

Ben Miles played Peter Townsend
Ben Miles in June 2023 and as Peter Townsend in "The Crown."      Jeff Spicer/Getty Images; Netflix

Ben Miles played Princess Margaret's lover, military hero Peter Townsend, in season one of "The Crown," reprising the role in one season two episode and another season five episode.

Since season one of "The Crown" ended, Miles has appeared alongside Paul Rudd and Sienna Miller in the historical film "The Catcher was a Spy." He's also appeared in the "Star Wars" series "Andor" on Disney+.

Miles has a role in "Tetris" the 2023 movie about the history of the popular game, and stars in the 2023 Apple TV+ series "Hijack" alongside Idris Elba.

He also reunited with his on-screen love Kirby in 2023's "Napoleon," playing Caulaincourt.

Alex Jennings played the Duke of Windsor

Alex Jennings played the Duke of Windsor
Alex Jennings in June 2023 and as King Edward VIII in "The Crown."      David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Netflix

Alex Jennings played the Duke of Windsor (formerly King Edward VIII) in seasons one and two of "The Crown," reprising the role in a single season five episode. The former king abdicated the throne in December 1936 in order to marry his lover, divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.

Since season one of "The Crown," Jennings has also starred as King Leopold in the historical drama series "Victoria," which aired from 2016 to 2019.

In 2019, he also appeared in the TV adaptation on the 1994 film "Four Weddings and a Funeral."

He most recently appeared in Prime Video's 2022 holiday movie "Your Christmas or Mine?" and will reprise his role in the upcoming sequel.

Lia Williams played Wallis Simpson

Lia Williams played Wallis Simpson
Lia Williams in November 2022 and as Wallis Simpson on "The Crown."      Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images; Netflix

Lia Williams played the Duke of Windsor's American wife Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, in seasons one and two of "The Crown," reprising the role for one episode in season five.

Since season one of the drama has aired, she's had regular roles in British TV series like "Riviera," "Death in Paradise," and "The Capture."

Williams most recently appeared in the HBO fantasy series "His Dark Materials" and the critically acclaimed 2022 film "Living," starring Bill Nighy.

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