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!

I think that's why she didn't get the role. I agree she's an excellent actress but doesn't look enough like Margaret to be believable. Mind you (and at the risk of getting something thrown at me), I thought the same about Vanessa Kirby (not that she wasn't beautiful enough but she was too big and ungainly to be petite Princess Margaret, especially next to Claire Foy).

I am clearly way too invested in this topic. I really need to get a job.

I am clearly way too invested in this topic. I really need to get a job.

No, this is our job now. I just thought of three more on the way home from gymnastics.

Jack Huston as Roddy Llewellyn (he played the Welsh painter in Their Finest)

I wonder whether Richard E Grant might make a good older Phillip.

Helen McCrory might have been a good alt-Margaret.

Richard E Grant should definitely be someone - it would be a shame to waste that accent.

I think with Her Maj (or Churchill, Thatcher or Charles) you’re playing a person we all know really well, and you have to be spot on in an imitation of them. With the other characters, especially Philip, you have more leeway to create your own character inspired by them. It’s important that Margaret is beautiful and dark and that Philip is tall, athletic, blond and charismatic, because those characteristics are important to the plot, but you can live with a Margaret who isn’t petite or has the wrong colour eyes.

I do think that’s going to make Olivia Coleman’s job much easier than the new Philip’s. Whoever he is he’s going to have a bloody difficult job creating a new character following Matt Smith.

Agree. Matt Smith has been amazing. I think it will help the actor if there is a gap of ten years between S2 and 3.

Jack Davenport is my pick as the middle-aged Lord Snowdon.

I didn't grow up in the UK, so I have no memory of Roddy Llewellyn. I will have to take your word that Jack Huston would suit.

Looks-wise Jack Davenport could indeed suit Snowdon, but he may be a little young (44). Helena Bonham Carter is at least 51-52.

I had another thought for Thatcher - Gillian Anderson. She may be a little young (late 40s, I believe) but I think she could do the strangled haughtiness to a T. She might not be able to resist the temptation to camp it up, though, which would be damaging. I'm not sure she quite pips my first choice - Samantha Bond - but she'd be in the running if Sam wasn't available.

Agree we need to deploy Richard E. Grant - add him to the list with Emma Thompson, Peter Capaldi and Rufus Sewell. Not sure he's right for the oldest Philip - Claire Foy was talking with pretty good authority about Helen Mirren having another go as the Queen (though I've just found out she's nixed the idea?) and he's far too young to be Philip to her.

Still not convinced about Vanessa Kirby as Margaret - but then I had the same problem with John Lithgow as Churchill.

No, this is our job now.

Gawd, wouldn't that be fabulous?

Oh you’re right, there must be a role somewhere for Jack Davenport.

How about Michael Gambon as Lord Mountbatten?

What about some of the younger cast members of Downton? Laura Carmichael as Anne perhaps and Dan Stevens as Mark Philips (or possibly Charles as he comes across as quite earnest).

Not Emma Thompson - let someone else have a go!

Have been discussing with DH.

We fancy Keely Hawes for Thatcher Roger Allam for Denis (looks nothing like him but he’d be hilarious) and Toby Jones for Harold Wilson.

Gambon would be good, yep. Or Charles Dance (though maybe he's a bit young at 71).

Laura Carmichael could be a good Princess Anne. I think Dan Stevens is both too old and too fair to play Charles. He might have been a good young Prince Philip if Matt Smith hadn't taken the role.

Charles Dance is another one we need to keep in reserve.

The luscious Toby Stephens has got to be fitted in somewhere - agree on Prince Philip. He's too gorgeous to play one of the PM's we had in the 70's.

If Iain Glen refused the role I'd give it to Toby in a heartbeat. I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating cookies.

I've got it! Charles Dance as the old Philip!

There must be a role for David Morrissey, surely?

Toby Stephens played Lord Snowdon in The Queen's Sister. Lucy Cohu played Princess Margaret in that and I thought she was very good. I think David Threllfall was Prince Philip. Also good!

Anna Maxwell-Martin for Camilla perhaps?

What about David Thewliss for Snowdon? He's sexy but not too pretty.