Mon Sep 09 15:56:00 UTC 2024: ## Elizabeth Debicki Reflects on the Challenge of Portraying Princess Diana in “The Crown”

**LOS ANGELES** – Elizabeth Debicki, known for her roles in films like “The Great Gatsby” and “Tenet,” took on the daunting task of playing Princess Diana in the final two seasons of Netflix’s “The Crown.” In a recent interview, she opened up about the immense pressure she felt and the impact the role has had on her.

“It felt a little bit impossible for a while,” Debicki shared, acknowledging the iconic status of Diana and the enduring grief surrounding her death. “She’s one of the most famous people that ever lived and she’s still so important to so many people.”

Debicki’s portrayal of Diana, particularly in the final season, which chronicled Diana’s final days before her tragic death, received widespread acclaim. She captured the princess’s soft voice, elegant mannerisms, and warmth, earning her a well-deserved Emmy nomination.

However, portraying Diana’s final moments was emotionally taxing. Debicki emphasized the importance of playing those scenes in real-time, never letting the characters anticipate the tragedy ahead. “The wave of grief always hit us post–making the scene,” she said.

She also shared the challenges of recreating the iconic security camera footage of Diana and Dodi Fayed waiting in the Ritz Hotel, a moment forever etched in our collective memory. “We had to lift ourselves above the impending story beat and give them a blissful lack of awareness,” Debicki explained.

Despite the emotional weight of the role, Debicki found strength in the collaborative process and the support of her fellow actors, particularly her scene partner, Khalid Abdalla, who played Dodi Fayed.

Looking back, Debicki recognizes the profound impact “The Crown” has had on her as an actress. “When you can’t wriggle out of something that scares the hell out of you, when there’s nowhere to go but back to work, you really learn how to do your job,” she said. “Because I did something that scared me so much, that’s probably made me braver.”

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