Elizabeth Debicki, the actress portraying Princess Diana in Netflix’s “The Crown,” recently opened up about the emotional toll of filming the tragic events leading up to Diana’s death in 1997. In an interview with reporters ahead of the show’s sixth season launch, the 33-year-old described the scenes as “heavy and very manic, and incredibly invasive.”
The sixth season of “The Crown” will be released in two parts, with the first part debuting on November 16 and the second part on December 14. The first part will cover the weeks leading up to Diana’s death and its impact on her family and the monarchy.
Debicki revealed that it was challenging to recreate the events. She likened the experience to an “animalistic response” to being pursued by actors playing the press. She explained that there was nowhere to escape and that even a minute in such a situation made her realize how unbearable it was.
The actress expressed her discomfort with the intense media attention that Diana faced. Recalling the scenes filmed in Paris during the daytime, Debicki said, “You feel very trapped. It’s a really unpleasant experience.” She added that no one should have to go through what it feels like to be surrounded by a swarm of people.
While Diana’s death will not be shown on screen, the lead-up will depict the heavy media scrutiny the Princess and her partner, Dodi Fayed, faced. Debicki admitted that there wasn’t much acting required during these scenes because having so many people yelling at you and demanding something is horrendous.
Khalid Abdalla, who plays Dodi Fayed in the series, also shared his experience in preparing for the role. He walked the route taken by the car in which the couple died in the Alma tunnel to better understand the events.
Both Debicki and Abdalla expressed their hope that the portrayal of these sensitive events would honor their memory and resonate with audiences. Debicki was previously nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Diana in Season 5 of “The Crown.”
