Princess Margaret in The Crown was first played by Vanessa Kirby in The Crown, a role for which she won a BAFTA TV Award. Helena Bonham Carter portrays the Princess in seasons three and four of The Crown and received a BAFTA TV nomination for her performance. Recently, Bonham Carter passed on the role of to Lesley Manville who will portray the princess in seasons five and six. Bonham Carter spoke to the press, including Express.co.uk ahead of the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards about saying goodbye to the famous royal.
How does Helena Bonham Carter feel saying goodbye to Princess Margaret role?
Seasons three and four of The Crown featured an entirely different cast to seasons one and two.
In season one and two, Queen Elizabeth II was portrayed by Claire Foy and her young sister Princess Margaret by Vanessa Kirby.
The first series was set between the years 1947 until 1955, from Queen Elizabeth II wedding until Sir Winston Churchill (played by John Lithgow) resigning as Prime Minister.
For seasons three and four, The Crown took a slight time jump and introduced a brand new cast as a result.
The Crown season three covers the timeline between 1964 and 1977, beginning with Harold Wilson’s (Jason Watkins )election as prime minister and ending with the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
READ MORE The Crown: Why did Helena Bonham Carter nearly reject The Crown role?
Olivia Colman replaced Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and Helena Bonham Carter took on Kirby’s role as Princess Margaret.
Filming for the fourth season of The Crown ended this year and cast details for the fifth and sixth series were announced shortly afterwards.
Imelda Staunton will be taking on the role of an older Queen Elizabeth II and Lesley Manville will portray Princess Margaret.
Speaking about to press ahead of this year’s Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards, including Express.co.uk, Bonham Carter discussed taking on the role and then handing Princess Margaret over to Lesley Manville role and how she felt having to say goodbye.
She continued: “And Leslie, I feel like I should hand her the cigarette holder that I used, as the baton, ‘Over to you woman.’
“She’s gonna have a great time with her and I’m so chuffed it’s her and she’s a great actress, and she’ll have great fun and on top of the part, which is a gift, Team Crown.
“I mean, they are a great crew and production team. So it was like a dream job.”
Bonham Carter also opened up about her love for Princess Margaret and playing the role.