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THE ENVELOPE LOS ANGELES TIMES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019
H
elena BonhamCarter
has played a number of
royals, including her Os-
car-nominated role as
Queen Elizabeth in “The
King’s Speech.” But it
isn’t the pomp that draws
her, it’s the writing.
In fact, when “The Crown” creator Peter
Morgan asked Bonham Carter to take over
the role of Princess Margaret for Seasons 3
and 4, “I said, ‘Well, I need to see a script.’
And he said, ‘What do you mean you need to
see a script? One, we’re a massive hit, and
also Olivia’s not asked for a script,’ ” refer-
ring to his new Elizabeth II actress, Olivia
Colman. “And I said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not like
Olivia.’ So the sibling rivalry’s already
started.
“But I need to know if I’ve got something
to bring to bear to her,” she adds.
She was also late for their first meeting.
“He said, ‘Jesus, I’ve chosen the right per-
son.’ ” The actress wasn’t so sure. Margaret’s
Season 1 and 2 incarnation, actress Vanessa
Kirby, had just won a BAFTA for the role. “I
thought, ‘Well, how do I follow this?’ ” Bon-
ham Carter recalls. “And then I thought, ‘No,
I can do short.’ Vanessa’s, like, endlessly tall.
And I’m nearly as short as Margaret.”
And that, for her, was an early key to
playing the role.
“A lot of her behavior was trying to make
herself as tall as possible,” she points out.
“Her wedding tiara was four inches high.
She had the seat of her car raised. She always
sat amazingly bolt upright.”
Meeting in a hotel suite on a brief foraySAG AWARDS | TELEVISION
With
royal
help
Genaro MolinaLos Angeles TimesHelena Bonham Carteris
open to the possibility that
‘The Crown’ pointers came
from Margaret’s spirit.
By LISA ROSEN