A year ago, Netflix had announced the role of Princess Margaret will be taken over by Oscar-nominated Lesley Manville. She would star in the show’s final two seasons. Manville has shown her acting skills in films like Phantom Thread and Maleficent. Previously, the character of Princess Margaret in The Crown was played by Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter.
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%u201CI could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret,%u201D said the actor in a statement, shared by the official Twitter handle of The Crown.
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%u201CThe baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down. Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy,%u201D tweeted the show’s official Twitter handle.
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%u201CI think, come on Manville, you%u2019ve got to take that baton, and not let those two actresses think, %u2018Oh we were great, shame about Manville.%u2019 Let%u2019s hope it doesn%u2019t come to that,%u201D Margaret told Deadline in July 2020. It was her first interview after being cast as Princess Margaret in The Crown.
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When asked about if she considered not accepting the high-stakes role, Manville said that she hardly gave it a second thought. %u201CThere was never any doubt that I would say yes. When they said %u2018Margaret,%u2019 I hadn%u2019t really thought about it. Then I thought, %u2018yes Margaret!%u2019 That%u2019s fabulous because she was so avant-garde. So naughty, delightful and funny. What a wonderful woman to play,%u201D she recalled.
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Manville found it %u201Cthrilling%u201D to take on a role which was previously played by two excellent actors. Asked about other actors joining the project, Manville remained tight-lipped. %u201CNot a single name has been dangled like a carrot to make me even more excited,%u201D she added.
