Acclaimed actress Claire Foy has offered a refreshingly down-to-earth perspective on her career-defining portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix's hit series The Crown, describing the monumental part as 'just another role'.
A Grounded Perspective on a Royal Part
In a candid interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, the 41-year-old star, who won two Emmy awards and a Golden Globe for her performance as the late monarch, explained her mindset. Foy stated that her decade of acting experience prior to landing the part gave her the perspective to see it as another job, despite its global scale.
'I’d been acting for a good 10 years before then, so I had a decent gauge on how it all worked,' Foy admitted. She emphasised that this approach allowed her to appreciate the extraordinary experience without being overwhelmed by the hype surrounding the prestigious production.
'That was good for me because it meant I was willing just to be amazed about these extraordinary experiences I was having, as opposed to believing the hype,' she told the magazine.
'Vitriolic' Views on Social Media and Public Discourse
Beyond discussing her iconic role, Foy did not hold back in expressing her strong disdain for social media and the pressure on public figures to constantly voice opinions. She described her feelings towards platforms like X and Instagram as 'vitriolic'.
'What I believe and who I am and where I stand on things is constantly in flux, as much as it is for everyone else, and I have absolutely no authority to discuss or proclaim about anything other than what I do as an actor,' she explained.
Foy argued that social media often makes life worse rather than better, adding, 'If you’re just making noise for the sake of it, then you should probably shut up – so I tend to shut up.' She confessed to feeling detached from the rapid changes driven by online culture.
Looking Forward: From Queen to Goshawk
While The Crown remains a landmark in her career, Foy's extensive credits include notable roles in Wolf Hall and A Very British Scandal. The actress is currently promoting her latest film project, H Is For Hawk.
This new film tells the story of a woman attempting to tame a goshawk following the death of her father, marking another challenging and transformative role for the versatile performer.
The full interview with Claire Foy is available in the February issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, which went on sale from Friday 2 January 2026.
