M.a few weeks before the release of The Crown 5but around the Netflix series there is already a tense atmosphere. This time to kick off the media fuss is Judi Dench. The English actress, as well as Dama di Commenda of the Order of the British Empire, she took the field to have her say.
Judi Dench and The Crown: “Raw sensationalism”
In a open letter published on The Times and addressed to Netflix, accuses the series of making “crude sensationalism” and of proposing an “inaccurate and harmful” historical reconstruction. The letter comes after criticism from another leading figure on the English scene, this time political.
This is theformer Prime Minister John Major, of the same opinion of the actress. In addition to having branded the reconstruction as harmful and baselessalso has denied his alleged involvement to put pressure on the queen to abdicate in favor of Prince Charles. An intervention, however, reported in the series, based on what is claimed by British rumors.
According to Dench, the closer the screenplay gets to the present, the more it seems that the fine line between “historical precision and raw sensationalism” is thinned out. Also, ask a Netflix from insert a disclaimer at the beginning of the episodesin order not to instill in the viewers the conviction of witnessing the representation of true facts rather than a fiction.
Judi Dench and Camilla Parker Bowles. (Getty Images)
The Crown 5 “Cruel to those directly involved”
“I am afraid that an important part of the public, especially abroad, may perceive this version of the story as absolutely true. It is cruel and unfair to those directly affected and harmful to the institution they represent“. Thus, Dench enters one of the strongest shows of recent years with a straight leg.
Nevertheless, the over 60 years of career do not prevent her from expressing herself also on the freedom of expression, especially in the artistic field. She calls herself a strong supporter, but she believes there are some stakes that must not be overcome. In the case of The Crowninsists on the disclaimer to be included at the beginning of each episode, especially after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the actress, it would be a sign of respect. “For Netflix the time has come to reconsider everything, for the sake of a recently grieving family and nation, as a sign of respect for a ruler who has served his people for 70 years and to preserve its reputation with the British public ‘.
Friendship with King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles
An iron and irremovable stance, which is causing debate in the British public opinion and beyond. One wonders the reason for such a sharp criticism and the suspicion grows that the answer is presumably to be found in personal relationship that binds her to the Royal Family. In addition to the honors received over the years, she is friends with King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles, the queen consort.
To the The Times the actress declares that his criticism is independent of friendship and the intervention was in no way suggested by the sovereign. However, the English press underlines Buckingham Palace’s concern about the shadows that could fall on the figure of Charles. Hence the need to protect its reputation, given that the fifth season will focus on the last decade of the last century.
Elizabeth Debicki as Diana (Netflix)
In particular, on the divorce between Carlo and Diana, which for years has fed the international press and fueled the public debate. To the preventive accusations, Netflix responded with an official statement: «The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events. The fifth season is an adaptation, a fiction, who imagines what could have happened behind closed doors in one of the most significant decades for the royal family. A decade that has been well told and documented by journalists, biographers and historians ».
Throughout his career, Judi Dench has worn the role of British queens several times, although she never went so far as to play Elizabeth II. The first time, in 1997 My queen, with which she gets her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The second of her, in 1999, when she plays Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in love. Role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The third, in Victoria and Abdul as Queen Victoria again.
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