Unexpected 'relief' Elizabeth Debicki felt after ‘very physical’ training for Princess Diana role
Elizabeth portrayed Diana very convincingly
The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki has opened up about her year-long preparation ahead of her portrayal of Princess Diana.
The actress, 34, has admitted that portraying the late princess for two series was intense and left her needing to “reclaim” herself.
Elizabeth Debicki on portraying Princess Diana
The Australian actress depicted Princess Diana in her thirties, taking over from Emma Corrin who depicted the royal in her younger years.
Appearing on UK talk show The One Show on Tuesday (March 18), Elizabeth discussed just how much effort was required to do the depiction of Diana justice.
It was a very physical part for me.
She detailed: “It was a very physical part for me. Because it was so far away from my accent, my natural accent and very far away from my physical movement and the way I move through the world.”
Elizabeth’s hard work for three years definitely paid off. Her impressive performance earnt her a 2024 Emmy award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama.
The actress said even the year-long prep for the role was “intensive”. Her portrayal even built muscle memory and a certain air of physicality due to the intensity.
The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki discusses ‘intense’ nature of Diana role
She explained: “Acting is quite physical because it’s a lot of muscle memory. It’s like doing a play for a long time, you’re just in this thing where your body just knows what to do but it did take me some time.”
Speaking of her relief after the role, Elizabeth said: “It did start to feel nice to have a normal voice back but it did take some time to reclaim myself.”
Debicki has previously discussing missing her role as The Crown’s Diana, which raked in 18 nominations at the Emmys in 2024.
“I miss playing that part,” she told Deadline last year.
“I miss the people, I knew that would inevitably happen. But the kind of work that we as actors and heads of department got asked to do, the bar we were asked to meet, and the complexity of the work was just so beautifully satisfying to do, and to try and meet the challenge of that show and its legacy and of all the incredible performances that came before.”
‘It’s really beautiful and quite moving’
The actress also acknowledged just how daunting it was embodying the role of ‘The People’s Princess’.
Elizabeth said: “I realised that the work that we have done in this show brings people really close to their own memories, and that’s a really unique kind of thing to feel a part of and also be witness to… I’ve had people be quite emotional.
“And then usually it ends with someone saying, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ It’s really beautiful and quite moving.”
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