‘She united people': Claire Foy was ‘honored’ to be part of Queen’s story in ‘The Crown’

Claire Foy also noted how she thinks of the late Queen as a 'mother and a grandmother and a great-grandmother'

PUBLISHED SEP 15, 2022

Claire Foy says it was her ‘honor’ to play Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix drama ‘The Crown’ (Alastair Grant-WPA Pool/Getty Images, IMDb)

ONTARIO, CANADA: Claire Foy who rose to fame for her performance in ‘The Crown’, has paid a heartwarming tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who peacefully passed away on Thursday, September 8 at her Balmoral residence.

The British actress, 38, who portrayed the younger Queen in the first two seasons of the Netflix’s drama titled ‘The Crown’ said it was her honor to play the role of the Queen in the show. The star also noted how she thinks of the Queen "as a mother and grandmother."

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Describing the late Queen as "incredible soul," Foy shared a conversation with BBC at the Toronto Film Festival this week, where she said, "I think that she was an incredible monarch. She united people and she was a massive symbol of continuity and dignity and grace. My main feeling is just thinking about her as a mother and a grandmother and a great-grandmother, really, and I'm very honored to have been a teeny tiny, small part of her story."

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown (Screenshot from IMDb) — Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth in 'The Crown' (Screenshot/IMDb)

Netflix’s 'The Crown', exhibits the reigning of Her Majesty over the decade, starting from the late 1940s. Claire played the Queen during her early years as monarch in the first two seasons of the show, chronicling her life from her wedding in 1947 to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh until 1964. But then, Foy stepped down from the role and Oliva Colman stepped in the shoes of Her Majesty, to play an even more accurate role of the queen as the show's timeline jumped to the 1970s.

Queen Elizabeth II attends a service for the Order of the British Empire at St Paul's Cathedral on March 7, 2012 in London, England. — Queen Elizabeth II attends a service for the Order of the British Empire at St Paul's Cathedral on March 7, 2012 in London, England (Geoff Pugh-WPA Pool /Getty Images)

Not so surprisingly, the death of Her Majesty has affected the viewership of the drama as the show is heading to Number 3 in the Top Ten UK list just days after the tragedy. 'The Crown' team is currently shooting the sixth season of the franchise. However, filming of the show was suspended for just one day as a "mark of respect to the late monarch," after the team filmed the scenes revolving around the tragic death of the Queen’s daughter-in-law, Princess Diana.

A Netflix spokesperson said: "As a mark of respect, filming on The Crown was suspended today. Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen's funeral." One of the show's creators Stephen Daldry said "It would be a simple tribute and a mark of respect. She's a global figure and it's what we should do."

A general view of the Imperial State Crown as the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II rests in Westminster Hall for the Lying-in State on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. — A general view of the Imperial State Crown as the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II rests in Westminster Hall for the Lying-in State on September 14, 2022 in London, England (Phil Noble-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The UK is currently in a 10-day period of mourning, with the monarch's funeral set to be held on Monday, September 19. The coffin of Her Majesty is currently sitting in Westminster hall, where the public can visit the remains of the queen and pay tribute to her.