The Crown Season 1 Cast: Where Are The Original Stars Now And Their Shocking New Roles?
The original cast of The Crown Season 1, which premiered in 2016, set an impossibly high bar for the entire Netflix series, transforming a historical drama into a global cultural phenomenon. As of December 2025, the careers of these foundational actors—who covered the early, tumultuous years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign from 1947 to 1955—have skyrocketed, with each star moving on to major film franchises, prestige television, and Oscar-nominated roles.
The first season focused on a young Elizabeth, played by Claire Foy, as she grappled with the death of her father, King George VI, and navigated the immense responsibilities of the crown, all while managing her marriage to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and her relationship with her first Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. This deep dive explores the complete biographies of the main cast and reveals their current, most exciting projects.
The Crown Season 1 Main Cast: Complete Biographies and Roles
The success of The Crown is intrinsically linked to the powerful performances of its inaugural ensemble. Here is a look at the core cast who brought the post-war era of the British Royal Family to life.
- Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II): Born April 16, 1984, in Stockport, England. Foy is a British actress known for her portrayals of real-life historical figures, including Anne Boleyn in Wolf Hall (2015). Her role as the young Queen Elizabeth II in Seasons 1 and 2 of The Crown earned her a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
- Matt Smith (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh): Born October 28, 1982, in Northampton, England. Smith is an English actor who gained international fame as the Eleventh Doctor in the iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who (2010–2013). His nuanced portrayal of Prince Philip's early struggles with his royal role in The Crown earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
- Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret): Born April 18, 1988, in London, England. Kirby is an English actress who began her career in theatre. Her breakout role as the rebellious and passionate Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, in the first two seasons of The Crown, led to a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
- John Lithgow (Winston Churchill): Born October 19, 1945, in Rochester, New York, USA. Lithgow is an American character actor celebrated for his extreme versatility across film, television, and theatre. A six-time Emmy winner and two-time Academy Award nominee, his powerful performance as the aging Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Season 1 secured him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
- Jared Harris (King George VI): Born August 24, 1961, in London, England. Harris is a British actor known for roles in *Mad Men* and *Chernobyl*. His portrayal of the ailing but steadfast King George VI, whose death thrust Elizabeth onto the throne, was a critical emotional anchor for the first season.
From Buckingham Palace to Hollywood Blockbusters: The Cast's Latest Ventures
The original cast’s time on The Crown served as a powerful springboard. While the series famously recasts the main royal roles every two seasons to reflect the passage of time, the Season 1 actors have gone on to secure some of the most sought-after roles in modern cinema and television, proving their incredible range and star power.
Claire Foy: The Queen Returns and The Hollywood Thriller
After her tenure as Queen Elizabeth II, Claire Foy has focused heavily on film roles, cementing her status as a leading dramatic actress. She starred as Diana Cavendish in the biographical drama Breathe and took on the lead role of Lisbeth Salander in the thriller The Girl in the Spider's Web.
Foy’s connection to the series remains strong. She made a surprise return for a guest role in the final season of The Crown, appearing in a flashback sequence that delighted long-time fans. This cameo highlighted the cyclical nature of the show and the enduring impact of her original performance.
Matt Smith: Stepping into the Dragon's Den
Perhaps the most high-profile career shift belongs to Matt Smith, who transitioned from playing the dutiful but frustrated Prince Philip to a central figure in a major fantasy franchise. Smith is now widely known for his role as Daemon Targaryen in the HBO prequel series House of the Dragon (2022-present), a show that has achieved massive global popularity.
His recent filmography also includes the Marvel film Morbius (2022) and the upcoming horror film Starve Acre (2024), demonstrating a clear move toward genre projects. Smith’s current success as Daemon Targaryen underscores his ability to anchor a massive series, a skill honed during his time as the Duke of Edinburgh.
Vanessa Kirby and John Lithgow: Action and Acclaim
Vanessa Kirby and John Lithgow have both continued to earn critical acclaim and secure roles in major action and drama projects. Kirby, whose portrayal of Princess Margaret's early romantic struggles with Peter Townsend was a Season 1 highlight, has become a fixture in the Mission: Impossible film series, playing the enigmatic White Widow.
In 2023, Kirby starred as Empress Joséphine alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Ridley Scott’s historical epic, Napoleon, a major role that further established her as an international film star.
Meanwhile, John Lithgow, whose portrayal of Winston Churchill was lauded for its gravitas, continues his prolific television career. He is a co-lead in the critically acclaimed FX thriller series The Old Man, where he stars opposite Jeff Bridges as former FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper. The series has been renewed, keeping Lithgow active in prestige television.
The Enduring Legacy of The Crown's First Chapter
Season 1 of The Crown covered a pivotal and dramatic period in post-war British history, spanning from the marriage of Elizabeth and Philip in 1947 to the collapse of Anthony Eden’s government following the Suez Crisis in 1955. The show’s narrative strength lay in its ability to humanize these historical figures, exploring themes of duty, personal sacrifice, and the weight of the monarchy.
Key historical events woven into the season include King George VI's death, the young Queen's coronation, Princess Margaret's forbidden romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend, and the political mentorship of Elizabeth by Churchill during his final term as Prime Minister.
The creative foundation laid by the Season 1 cast and creator Peter Morgan ensured the series' topical authority and longevity. The casting of relatively young, but established, theatre-trained actors like Foy, Smith, and Kirby was a risk that paid off, injecting a fresh energy into the story of the Royal Family. Their performances remain the benchmark against which all subsequent cast members are measured. The original ensemble not only launched their own careers into a new stratosphere but also secured The Crown’s place as one of the most significant television dramas of the 21st century.
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