Seeking your casting suggestions for The Crown, Series 3

[mommybunny]

OK, so we know Olivia Colman will be the Queen and Helena Bonham Carter is probably going to be Princess Margaret. I think they're both great choices and look forward to seeing them.

Who can we cast in the other roles?

I understand the series is meant to cover the 70s, and it's been suggested that the natural "end" to the series is Thatcher's election. So we probably won't see Diana or Fergie yet, but could see Camilla.

Here is where I'm at in my head right now:

Prince Philip (fair-haired male, mid-40s/mid 50s in age): not my idea but I think Iain Glen is absolutely inspired

Queen Mother (short, dark-haired female, 60s-70s in age): Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie

Prince Charles (dark-haired male, mid 20s/mid 30s in age): Jonah Hauer-King (he played Laurie in Little Women)

Princess Anne (fair-haired female, mid 20s/mid 30s in age): Emilia Clarke (she'd kick some ass!)

Ted Heath (grey-haired male, mid 50s in age): possibly Samuel West (who, it must be noted, has already played Ted Heath, in a drama about the young Thatcher)

Harold Wilson (grey-haired male, mid 50s in age): for some reason I'm thinking Matthew MacFadyen could be good, though he may be too young

James Callaghan (grey-haired male, late 50s in age): Timothy Spall maybe?

Margaret Thatcher (fair-haired female, 50s in age): Jemma Redgrave, Emily Watson, Samantha Bond (who would be my first choice)

That's all I've got for now, though there must be a way to fit Peter Capaldi in as someone's private secretary. Give me your ideas!

Oh and we need two good looking young men in their mid-late twenties for Roddy Llewellyn and Mark Philips and a characterful young woman for Camilla. The blokes can presumably be cast as attractive newcomers.

I’m not liking Robson Green for Snowdon, but actually I think Tobias Menzies might work for that role.

The Snowdon role needs sex appeal, and to my mind Robson Green's always had it. Not sure Tobias Menzies could carry that off - but if you remind me of some things he's been in where he's shown it, I'd be willing to consider it (as a casting director I'm keeping an open mind ).

By all means suggest other roles and role-fillers! I'm struggling particularly with Camilla.

Agree Rufus far too handsome to be an older Charles.

Ralph Fiennes could work as Philip.

What about Hugh Skinner for Mark Phillips? He was in W1A, Harlots and Poldark.

Ralph Fiennes could indeed work as Philip, but would he "stoop" to doing television? The others we've mentioned all do regularly.

Im loving tbe Iain Glen suggestion.
Im not sure about Olivia Colman, she's a good actress but doesn't strike me as versatile.

It may be cheating, but Newsweek did a story speculating on possible Philips:

www.newsweek.com/who-will-play-prince-philip-crown-season-3-david-tennant-and-five-other-actors-772222

I just think Mark Rylance is too small/slight to play Philip. Philip was never fat by any means but he's just bigger than Rylance.

Oscar-winner Sir Mark doing TV? I don’t think so!

He did Wolf Hall, remember. Though that was before he won his Oscar, he might not be as sniffy as others who have performed their entire careers in film.

@southeastdweller Hugh currently plays Prince William on The Windsors and does a nice line in "nice but dim" types. And Mark Philips is rumoured to have been nicknamed "Foggy" for not being very bright so...

Speaking of Poldark (Hugh Skinner), is Gabriella Wilde too pretty to be Camilla?

Rufus could be Snowden. He definitely has sex appeal.

Tony Armstrong-Jones, even in his youth, was nowhere near Matthew Goode or Rufus Sewell levels of hotness.

James Norton would make a good, ummm, boyfriend for me.

Hugh Grant as an older Charles.

Anna Maxwell Martin is a corker. Possible Anne?

Anne and Charles need to be in their 20s. AMM is about 40, I think?

Maybe later on, then.

Id like to see Colin Firth in it.

Anne Marie Duff could be Camilla or Anne in the fourth series too young for the next series
I like the idea of Hugh Grant as an older Charles .

As long as they keep the same Tommy Lascelles and his magnificent moustache!

I think Anne Marie Duff is also in her 40s.

Actually, having looked again at the Howards End cast, Philippa Coulthard (who played Helen Schlegel) might make a rather good Princess Anne. I've already cast Helen's erstwhile lover as her brother (Jonah Hauer-King also played Paul Wilcox in that production). Playing Helena Bonham Carter's niece would just be one of those mind-blowing bonuses.

And since we're on the subject of Howards End, Tracey Ullmann could be a good Queen Mother if Imelda Staunton isn't available.

Tommy Lascelles and his glorious moustache became a reason in itself to watch! This is why I suggested someone like Peter Capaldi in a similar role - you need someone who can chew the scenery like Tommy did (and I'd like to see him rock a moustache!).

I think Anna Maxwell Martin was considered for Princess Margaret before they got Helena Bonham Carter.

Really? She's a good actress but too plain for Margaret.