The Iconic Scene
Elizabeth Debicki, the actress portraying Princess Diana in the upcoming season of The Crown, reveals that the most important moment for her was recreating the images of Diana wearing a blue swimsuit on a diving board in Portofino, Italy, in 1997. Debicki wanted to mirror the photos as closely as possible, as they had spread globally at the time. She believes that getting the scene right was as significant as the earlier scenes that showcased Diana's "revenge dress."
The "Sacred" Moment
Debicki describes the swimsuit scene as a "sacred" moment and emphasizes the emotional significance of capturing it accurately. She compares it to shooting the revenge dress scene, where she didn't fully grasp the impact until she stepped out of the car. Debicki appreciates the opportunity as an actress to delve into these moments and discover the emotions within them.
Recreating the Paris Chase
While the fatal car crash of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed is not shown in the series, Debicki and Khalid Abdalla, who plays Dodi, did recreate scenes involving their pursuit by paparazzi. Debicki found these scenes so harrowing to film that she didn't need to pretend to be afraid. She shares that being surrounded by paparazzi made her feel trapped and that the experience was genuinely unpleasant.
The Authenticity of Paris
The creators of The Crown aimed to faithfully recreate Diana and Dodi's final moments in Paris. Olivia Williams, who portrays Camilla, highlights the extraordinary access the production had to buildings and roads in the city. The lighting department even lit the Eiffel Tower for the shoot. Williams believes that the combination of the tragic event and the show's influence contributed to Paris fully embracing the production.
The Portrayal of Dodi
Khalid Abdalla, who plays Dodi Fayed, shares that there wasn't much material to draw from when developing his character's voice and mannerisms. He mentions a brief interview where Dodi calls Larry King to ask Burt Reynolds to do an impression of Tony Curtis doing Cary Grant. From that interview and another video, Abdalla constructed Dodi's voice, which had American tones with hints of Egyptian influence. Abdalla also expresses how the series explores Dodi's character more deeply, allowing viewers to know him beyond his supporting role in Diana's story.
Charles and His Sons
Dominic West, who portrays Prince Charles, describes the development of the relationship between Charles and his sons, William and Harry, in series six. He mentions scenes where Charles tries to help his sons mourn and come to terms with Diana's death. West, being a father himself, found it easy to portray the dynamic and empathize with Charles, who struggles to connect with William. He believes that all parents are eventually punished by their children and finds the portrayal of Charles' challenges moving.
Charles' Ears
In a fun tidbit, Dominic West reveals that he wore special devices to make his ears protrude while playing Prince Charles in series five of The Crown. However, in the new series, West has gone "au naturel" and doesn't require the ear "plumpers." The difference is subtle but noticeable in the images from the show. Charles' prominent ears have been a subject of gentle mockery by impressionists for decades, but West explains that the aim of The Crown has always been to evoke the characters rather than imitate them.
