Who Plays Young Queen Elizabeth in The Crown Season 6? Why Did ‘The Crown’ Recast Its Young Queen Elizabeth II Actress?
by Madhumitha
Updated Dec 18, 2023
Who Plays Young Queen Elizabeth in The Crown Season 6?
In The Crown Season 6, Viola Prettejohn portrays the young Queen Elizabeth II, specifically depicting Princess Elizabeth during her teenage years. She steps into the role during a flashback to May 8, 1945, which was VE Day, marking the end of World War II in Europe.
This episode showcases Princess Elizabeth, who was then 19 years old, celebrating at the Ritz with her sister, Princess Margaret. This particular portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II focuses on her life before her marriage to Philip Mountbatten, highlighting a period before the events covered in the initial seasons of The Crown.
Viola Prettejohn's appearance as the young Queen Elizabeth II is notably featured in Episode 8 of The Crown Season 6. Furthermore, she makes a return in the series finale, where various iterations of Queen Elizabeth II are brought together for the closing scenes of the show.
Prettejohn's performance in this role adds depth to the series, portraying a pivotal period in the life of the future Queen of the United Kingdom before her ascension to the throne and her subsequent experiences depicted in the earlier seasons of The Crown.
Her portrayal as the young Princess Elizabeth marks a significant addition to the distinguished list of actresses who have depicted various stages of Queen Elizabeth II's life throughout the acclaimed Netflix historical drama series.
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Why Did The Crown Recast Its Young Queen Elizabeth II Actress?
The Crown has a tradition of recasting roles to align with the aging timeline of its characters, aiming for continuity and authenticity in depicting different stages of their lives. The decision to recast the actress portraying the young Queen Elizabeth II was primarily driven by the show's narrative structure, which spans several decades in the life of the British monarch.
In the case of Viola Prettejohn taking over the role of the young Queen Elizabeth II in Season 6, the series delves into earlier periods of the Queen's life, specifically focusing on her teenage years during significant historical moments. This recasting was necessary to accurately portray Princess Elizabeth at a younger age, depicting her experiences and pivotal moments before her marriage to Prince Philip and her eventual ascension to the throne.
Given that 'The Crown' covers a vast timeline, each season typically covers a specific era, necessitating the portrayal of characters at various life stages. Recasting allows the show to introduce new actors to accurately depict the characters' evolving ages and portray different phases of their lives more convincingly.
In this case, Viola Prettejohn's portrayal of the young Princess Elizabeth contributed to showcasing crucial moments in her life that occurred before the events covered in earlier seasons, providing a more comprehensive and detailed narrative of Queen Elizabeth II's journey from her youth to later life. The decision to recast was therefore made to align with the historical accuracy and chronological progression of the character's life within the show's storytelling structure.
Who is Viola Prettejohn?
Viola Prettejohn is a British actress who appeared in the sixth season of the popular TV series, The Crown. In this show, she took on the role of a young Princess Elizabeth, depicting her during earlier years before she became Queen Elizabeth II.
Before her role in The Crown, Viola Prettejohn was part of another television series called The Nevers. In The Nevers, she portrayed a character named Myrtle Haplisch. This show was a different project where she played a role separate from her portrayal of the young Princess Elizabeth in The Crown.
Prettejohn's acting career involves taking on various roles in different television series, showcasing her versatility and talent as an actress. Her portrayal of both Myrtle Haplisch in The Nevers and the young Princess Elizabeth in The Crown has allowed her to display her skills in bringing diverse characters to life on screen.
Education
St Paul's Girls' School
Occupation
Actress
Television
The Nevers
Who Plays Young Queen Elizabeth In The Crown Season 6?-FAQs
Viola Prettejohn portrays the young Queen Elizabeth II in flashbacks during The Crown Season 6, depicting her teenage years before becoming the monarch.
Viola Prettejohn is the actress who plays the young Queen Elizabeth II during her teenage years in specific flashback scenes of The Crown Season 6.
The Crown recasts the actress portraying the young Queen Elizabeth II to accurately depict different life stages as the series spans various decades in the Queen's life, ensuring authenticity in its storytelling.
In "The Nevers," Viola Prettejohn portrayed the character Myrtle Hapslich.
Viola Prettejohn made her TV debut in the series "Counterpart," playing the younger version of Emily.