Elizabeth Debicki on Portraying Princess Diana

Elizabeth Debicki, the actress who portrayed Princess Diana in the acclaimed Netflix series "The Crown," revealed the challenges she faced in shedding the late royal's mannerisms after filming concluded. In an interview with People magazine, the 33-year-old Australian actress admitted that she found herself imitating Diana for an extended period, noting that her voice and physical gestures had become deeply ingrained. “I had to work so hard at getting the voice that I sort of ingrained it so deeply in myself that I had to unwind the wheel,” she explained. Debicki described how she would unconsciously adopt Diana's signature head tilts and gestures, particularly in moments of persuasion. “I [found] myself sort of saying, ‘Are you sure?’” she recalled, realizing she was slipping into the character. Although she has since moved past these habits, she emphasized the conscious effort required to return to her own voice and mannerisms. The actress's portrayal of Diana has garnered critical acclaim, earning her a nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a drama at the 2024 Emmys. "The Crown" itself received 18 Emmy nominations, including outstanding drama series, with fellow cast members Imelda Staunton and Dominic West also recognized for their performances. Debicki dedicated a year to researching Diana's life, particularly her charitable work, which she found inspiring. “She really put herself on the line to draw awareness around [causes],” Debicki noted, highlighting the significance of Diana's activism during a time when such efforts were considered radical.