The Crown Season 1 Cast: Where Are The Original Royals Now In 2025?

The original cast of The Crown Season 1 delivered a masterclass in historical drama, setting the gold standard for the entire Netflix series. Their performances, which premiered in 2016, captured the early, tumultuous years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, transforming relatively unknown actors into global superstars. As of December 2025, years after they passed the baton to the next generation of actors, the original ensemble remains one of the most celebrated in television history. This look back at the Season 1 cast reveals not only the biographical details of the actors who brought the young royal family to life, but also their impressive, and often surprising, career trajectories in the years since.

The first two seasons, helmed by creator Peter Morgan, focused on the period from 1947 to 1964, chronicling the death of King George VI, the Suez Crisis, and the early challenges faced by the young monarch. The depth of talent in this inaugural cast is undeniable, earning them numerous accolades and establishing The Crown as a critical and commercial phenomenon right out of the gate. The question now is: where did these actors go after their royal tenure ended, and what fresh projects are they working on today?

The Crown Season 1 Main Cast: Biography and Current Projects (2025 Update)

The core ensemble of The Crown Season 1 was responsible for establishing the emotional weight and historical gravitas of the series. Here is a detailed look at the actors who led the first two seasons and their most recent and upcoming professional endeavors, ensuring the information is as current as possible in late 2025.

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• Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II)
  • Born: April 16, 1984 (Age 41 as of 2025)
  • Role in The Crown: A nuanced portrayal of Elizabeth from her marriage to Philip in 1947 through the early 1960s.
  • Awards for the Role: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2018), Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (2017).
  • Post-Crown Career Highlights: Played Janet Armstrong in the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man (2018) and Lisbeth Salander in The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018).
  • Current/Upcoming Projects (2025): Foy has been cast in the upcoming biopic Ink, which chronicles the rise of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, demonstrating her continued interest in playing powerful, real-life figures.
• Matt Smith (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh)
  • Born: October 28, 1982 (Age 43 as of 2025)
  • Role in The Crown: Captured the restlessness and struggle for identity of Prince Philip as he adjusted to life as a consort.
  • Prior Famous Role: The Eleventh Doctor in the iconic BBC series Doctor Who (2010–2013).
  • Post-Crown Career Highlights: Appeared in the Marvel film Morbius (2022) and starred as Daemon Targaryen in the massively successful HBO series House of the Dragon (2022–present).
  • Current/Upcoming Projects (2025): His filmography includes the upcoming film Caught Stealing (2025) and the horror film Starve Acre, showcasing his versatility across major franchises and independent cinema.
• Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret)
  • Born: April 18, 1988 (Age 37 as of 2025)
  • Role in The Crown: The fiery, passionate, and often tragic younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, particularly focusing on her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend.
  • Post-Crown Career Highlights: Achieved global action stardom as Alanna Mitsopolis/The White Widow in the Mission: Impossible franchise (2018, 2023). Received an Academy Award nomination for her raw performance in Pieces of a Woman (2020). She also played Empress Joséphine in Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon (2023).
  • Current/Upcoming Projects (2025): Kirby is set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman in the highly anticipated film The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), a role that will cement her place in blockbuster cinema.
• Jared Harris (King George VI)
  • Born: August 24, 1961 (Age 64 as of 2025)
  • Role in The Crown: The stoic, ailing father of Elizabeth, whose premature death thrust her onto the throne.
  • Post-Crown Career Highlights: Starred in the critically acclaimed HBO mini-series Chernobyl (2019) and the Apple TV+ series Foundation (2021–present).
  • Current/Upcoming Projects (2025): Harris continues his prolific career with the upcoming film Reawakening (TBA).

The Enduring Legacy of The Crown’s Original Cast

The success of the first season of The Crown was not merely due to its lavish production or compelling historical narrative, but the sheer talent of its initial ensemble. The Season 1 cast, under the direction of Peter Morgan’s meticulous scripts, managed to humanize figures who had previously existed only as distant, almost mythical, symbols of state. This critical acclaim translated into a slew of nominations and wins, including the show’s first Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama.

The decision to recast the main roles every two seasons was a bold move by the production team, necessary to accurately reflect the aging of the royal family. This unique casting strategy meant that the Season 1 actors had a finite, two-season run to make their mark. The critical consensus is that they succeeded spectacularly, establishing the emotional blueprint that all subsequent casts—including Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, and Helena Bonham Carter in Seasons 3 and 4—would follow. Claire Foy’s portrayal, in particular, set the benchmark for Queen Elizabeth II’s character arc, focusing on the heavy burden of duty and the sacrifice of personal life for the Crown.

Key Supporting Players and Their Continued Success

While Foy, Smith, and Kirby garnered the most headlines, the supporting cast of Season 1 was equally crucial to the series' topical authority and dramatic depth. These actors depicted the key political and familial entities surrounding the young Queen, ensuring the historical accuracy and political intrigue of the storyline.

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• Victoria Hamilton (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother): Hamilton delivered a powerful performance as the recently widowed Queen Mother, struggling to find her place after her husband’s death. She has since appeared in notable series like Deep State and Cobra.
• Ben Miles (Group Captain Peter Townsend): Miles played the forbidden love interest of Princess Margaret. Following The Crown, he has maintained a strong presence in British television, appearing in shows such as The Trial of Christine Keeler.
• Jeremy Northam (Anthony Eden): Northam portrayed the troubled Prime Minister who succeeded Winston Churchill and was central to the Suez Crisis storyline in Season 2. His career remains robust with roles in films like Official Secrets.
• Eileen Atkins (Queen Mary): The veteran actress played the formidable Queen Mary, Elizabeth’s grandmother. Atkins’s distinguished career continues with various stage and screen roles, adding immense gravitas to the early episodes.

The collective success of these actors highlights how The Crown served as a launchpad, propelling its stars into major Hollywood and international roles. From Matt Smith’s return to major TV franchises to Vanessa Kirby’s transformation into a Hollywood action star and Marvel hero, the original cast has demonstrated that their departure from the royal court was merely the beginning of their reign in global entertainment. Their continued presence in high-profile projects in 2025 serves as a fresh testament to the enduring quality and star-making power of The Crown Season 1. The original "royal family" may have vacated the Netflix throne, but they are now ruling the box office and small screen across multiple genres.