Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki are playing Charles and Diana in Season 5 of The Crown—here's how the actors compare to the real-life prince and princess.
West, 51, became an international star for his role in the HBO drama The Wire, in which he played the notoriously promiscuous Detective Jimmy McNulty from 2002 to 2008. More recently, he played another unfaithful husband in five seasons of The Affair.
Much like the prince he depicts in The Crown, West's love life has sparked global headlines. Last year, he ended up on the front pages after being spotted kissing co-star Lily James in Rome.
When the U.K. press arrived en masse at the home that West shares with his wife Catherine FitzGerald, they left a note for the media outside the property stating that their marriage was strong—and were later photographed kissing.
West will depict Charles during his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall.
Season 5 takes the royals into the 1990s, when Diana smuggled tape-recorded confessions out of Kensington Palace to biographer Andrew Morton.
The journalist exposed Charles' affair for the first time, prompting the couple's separation in 1992.
Diana will be played by Elizabeth Debicki, star of The Night Manager and The Great Gatsby. The Australian actress will likely depict a bombshell interview that Diana gave to BBC journalist Martin Bashir.
During the interview, the princess famously said: "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
Debicki is 30, 21 years younger than West. The actual age gap between Charles and Diana was 13 years.
Fans of Diana have welcomed Debicki's casting because the 6ft 3in actress is taller than many others who have played the princess. Diana was 5ft 10in, roughly the same height as Charles.
One Twitter user called Jacob Diana posted: "I have never seen The Crown but I comment on all Lady Diana casting choices and I just have to say casting Elizabeth Debicki FINALLY embraces that Diana was TALL and absolutely down with the girls."
Another user, Mariana, wrote: "I don't watch this show but now I have to just to see Tall Elizabeth Debicki as princess Diana oh my God."
In Season 5 of the Netflix drama, Imelda Staunton will replace Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II. Jonathan Pryce will play Prince Philip and Olivia Williams will play Camilla.
The fifth season is expected to air in 2022. The timing means Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee year is set to be dominated by portrayals of the royal family's darkest days.
Alongside the fictionalised account in The Crown, Prince Harry's memoir is due at the end of 2022 and is expected to be scathing.
A lawsuit accusing the queen's second son Prince Andrew of sexual abuse and battery is also tipped to go to court in the middle of 2022, according to the attorney of accuser Virginia Giuffre. Andrew has denied all the allegations.
