‘The Crown’ Star Emma Corrin Felt A ‘Huge Amount of Pressure’ When Portraying Princess Diana

Published on October 5, 2020.

Netflix

The Crown‘s Emma Corrin is opening up about her time on set and her experience portraying one of the world’s most beloved royals, Princess Diana.

Corrin certainly had big shoes to fill during her role and admitted to The Sunday Times that playing Princess Diana, who was killed in a tragic car accident in 1997, was intimidating at first.

Corrin shared that “there’s a huge amount of pressure” that comes with the territory. “Everyone has this ownership,” she said, adding that “[Expectations have been] overwhelming since the beginning.”

The actress added that she wants to make Diana “proud.” She explained, “I know that’s strange and cheesy, but I feel like I know her.”

Corrin also opened up about capturing Diana’s private eating disorder battle. “Drawing on my experience, not that I’ve experienced that kind of self-harm, but mental health in general, it can lead you down a very dark path when you’re struggling to cope, when things feel out of control,” said Corrin.

“Diana very much doesn’t have the love and comfort and attention she needs from the man she loves or the family, who aren’t really acting as a family to her,” said Corrin. “There is a build-up of emotion she can’t deal with, and making herself sick is a way of taking back control.”

Corrin also shared that she chatted with Princess Diana’s former secretary Patrick Jephson to learn more about Diana and how to portray her. “He said she was so naturally happy. When she joined the royal family, she had come from living with flatmates in Earls Court and she was a very normal girl,” said Corrin. “Patrick said she was still full of that girlish silliness, very down to earth.”