The Crown: Series star Helena Bonham Carter calls for clarity from Netflix

The Crown
Series star Helena Bonham Carter calls for clarity from Netflix

Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in "The Crown"

© Des Willie / Netflix 2020, Inc

The discussion never ends: Does the Netflix series "The Crown" have to make it clearer that it is not a documentary?

Netflix has been showing the fourth season of "The Crown" since November 15th. And the discussions about the new episodes of the series, which revolves around the life of Queen Elizabeth II, have not stopped since then. Biggest point of criticism: The TV production gives the impression that it shows the true story of the British royals. Now a star from "The Crown" has also commented on this.

Helena Bonham Carter, 54, said "The Crown" has a "moral responsibility" to tell viewers that it is more of a drama than historical fact. Previously, calls for a "warning" had been raised. The actress, who plays Princess Margaret in seasons three and four of the Netflix series, said on the show's official podcast that there was an important difference between "our version" and the "real version".

Exchange and juggle

The series is dramatizing, Bonham Carter said, adding that she felt they had a moral responsibility to say that it wasn't a documentary, it was "drama." She called the research of the series creator Peter Morgan (57) "amazing": "This is the right documentary. That is great and then Peter swaps things and juggles with them."

Previously, criticism of the historical accuracy of the series had already sparked a reaction from the British government. Culture Minister Oliver Dowden (42) told the "Mail on Sunday" that he wanted to ask Netflix to put a note in front of each episode so that viewers would not mistakenly interpret the presentation as historical truth.

Dowden said, "It is a beautifully produced work of fiction. Like other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the outset that it is exactly …" Without warning, the minister feared that a generation of viewers will see this Not having witnessed events, confusing fiction with fact.

Diana's brother worried

Much criticism relates primarily to the portrayal of the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana, which appears for the first time in season four. Allegedly close confidants of the British heir to the throne accuse Netflix of exploiting the pain of the royal family for financial gain and to present fiction as fact, according to "Mail on Sunday". Charles is portrayed as a callous and self-centered man who marries the innocent Diana, is jealous of her popularity and continues his affair with the then married Camilla Parker-Bowles. "The public should not be fooled," said the insider, saying that this is not an accurate representation of "what really happened".

Diana's brother Charles Spencer (56) has also spoken out. He too worries "that people watch a series like this and forget that it is fiction," he said during an appearance on "Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh". Again and again he meets people who believe that the series is like a "history lesson", which is not the case. There are facts in the series, "but the parts in between are not facts," said the 56-year-old, who considers it his duty to stand up for his late sister. Series creator Peter Morgan had previously stated that private moments between the royals' family members in "The Crown" were created by "educated guesswork".

"The scripts are fiction"

Emma Corrin (25), who plays the young Princess Diana in the series, said of the criticism of "The Crown" that she can understand the worries. In an interview, she said, according to media reports, "It's difficult. I think everyone in 'The Crown' is always trying to remind everyone that the series is largely fiction." The TV show's roots are real, she added, "but Peter Morgan's scripts are fiction."

With all the criticism, there is also praise, especially for shooting star Corrin: Her portrayal of Diana has not only impressed critics. Andrew Morton (67), who worked with Diana on a biography in 1992, said in Vanity Fair: "I think Emma Corrin's performance is by far the most successful and realistic portrayal of Diana that I have ever seen."

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