Since the Netflix series “The Crown” returned with the fifth season on November 9, Elizabeth Debicki (32) has been celebrated. She had taken over the role of Princess Diana from Emma Corrin (26) in the TV show, which is scheduled to change the cast every two seasons. Debicki actually auditioned for another “The Crown” role…
As preparations for the second season of the royal series began in 2016, the actress appeared to audition for a small role. This eventually became the cast of Princess Diana years later in seasons five and six… Due to the pandemic, among other things, Debicki had to wait six years before the public got to see her portrayal of Diana.
Debicki told The Hollywood Reporter that her agent suggested that she audition for a small role in a season 2 episode of The Crown. According to Debicki, after she went to the audition, which the casting director and some producers were present after some hesitation, it turned out that those in charge saw something Diana-like in her. That “surprised no one more” than herself, according to the 1.90 meter tall actress. However, she had already learned then that she had to be patient for four more years – “which is an eternity in the life of an actor,” said the 32-year-old. In 2020, the specific request actually came.
She invested “quite a lot of time” in preparing for the role. Also because of the corona pandemic. She was in her Australian homeland with her family, she says, and was busy with film material and books about the role: “Otherwise in my normal life as an actress I would have thought: ‘My God, I won’t have time for this’, but all of a sudden I had that time, I didn’t have another job back then, and I sat down with it.” She “loved learning, trying to figure out who she is and getting as close to her as I could,” she said of Diana.
It’s not the first role for which the actress, who was born in Paris in 1990 to a Polish father and an Australian mother, has been celebrated. Her parents were both ballet dancers who met while performing together. When she was five years old, the family moved to Australia.
Debicki made her feature film debut in 2011 after graduating from drama school in the Australian film The Best Man. Then she caused a stir for the first time. Star director Baz Luhrmann (60) had her come to Los Angeles to cast his film The Great Gatsby (2013) and he finally cast her as Jordan Baker. The role brought her numerous good reviews. Debicki was then on the theater stage with Cate Blanchett (53) and Isabelle Huppert (69).
Supporting roles in three major films followed: in the action comedy “Codename U.N.C.L.E.” directed by Guy Ritchie (54), in the adaptation of “Macbeth” by Australian film director Justin Kurzel (48) and in the adventure film “Everest”. She was also in front of the camera for the acclaimed series “The Night Manager”. Following that success, Debicki moved on to a supporting role in the Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, playing the character Ayesha. She should also be there in part three.
Debicki also celebrated great success as Mrs. G in the film “The Tale” and with the role of Alice in Steve McQueen’s (53) film “Widows”. In the thriller “The Burnt Orange Heresy” she played alongside Claes Bang (55) and Mick Jagger (79). In Christopher Nolan’s (52) spy film “Tenet” she got the leading role as Kat.
