The Crown star Emma Corrin has insisted she ‘understands’ calls by the Culture Secretary to include a disclaimer on the newest series.
The actress, 25, who starred as Princess Diana in series four of the Netflix drama, insisted the series doesn’t require a warning as fans are aware the drama is ‘very clearly’ a ‘dramatised version of events.’
It comes following calls from Oliver Dowden to state that The Crown is clearly a work of fiction, but Netflix has insisted the series is billed as a drama meaning a disclaimer isn’t needed.
Views: The Crown star Emma Corrin has insisted she ‘understands’ calls by the Culture Secretary to include a disclaimer on the series
Emma spoke out on the disclaimer row in an interview with Variety for their iHeart Radio podcast The Big Ticket, saying: ‘It is very clearly a dramatised version of events.’
The actress echoed her co-star Josh O’Connor’s claims that viewers are well aware the series is a work of fiction.
She added: ‘This is fictitious in the same way people don’t mistake Succession for what actually happened with the Murdochs.
‘I also understand [the request] comes from a place of sensitivity and protectiveness of the Royal Family and Diana.’
Defiant: The actress insisted the series doesn’t require a warning as fans are aware the drama is ‘very clearly’ a ‘dramatised version of events’ (pictured as Princess Diana)
Emma made her debut in The Crown’s fourth series playing a younger version of the late Princess Diana, as the show documented her turbulent marriage to Prince Charles.
Last week her co-star Josh blasted the Culture Secretary’s ‘outrageous’ comments that a disclaimer should be added, claiming he feels ‘let down’ by the government.
He told the LA Times’ The Envelope podcast: ‘We were slightly let down by our culture secretary, whose job it is to encourage culture.
‘In my opinion, it’s pretty outrageous that he came out and said what he said. Particularly in this time when he knows that the arts are struggling and they’re on their knees, I think it’s a bit of a low blow.
Irate: Last week her co-star Josh O’Connor blasted the Culture Secretary’s ‘outrageous’ comments that a disclaimer should be added, claiming he feels ‘let down’ by the government
Warning: Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said on Friday he believes it’s ‘perfectly reasonable’ to ask Netflix to include a disclaimer on the series
The actor said viewers are aware The Crown is a work of fiction. ‘My personal view is that audiences understand,’ he added.
‘You have to show them the respect and understand that they’re intelligent enough to see it for what it is, which is pure fiction.’
Last week Netflix said it had ‘no plans – and sees no need’ to add a disclaimer, following claims they hadn’t done enough to make it clear The Crown was fiction.
But Culture Secretary Dowden told ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Friday: ‘Well first of all the actor, and by the way there’s a range of views expressed by different actors on The Crown which you will have seen, it’s worth nothing that he got his first break at The Old Vic which has got £600,000 in grants as part of the cultural recovery fund.
‘But the point I’m making and I stand by is that if your viewers are watching a show on the BBC or ITV, they can see at the beginning if it says that it’s historical fiction, it will say at the beginning ”this is a work of fiction based on fact”, and it’s a clear warning.
Controversy: Netflix was accused of not doing enough to warn viewers The Crown’s stories were predominantly fiction, following concerns younger fans would view it as factual
‘All I was saying in relation to The Crown is they should do the same thing. I have great affection for The Crown, it’s produced in my constituency, it’s beautifully produced, but I think it’s perfectly reasonable to put that warning on.
‘Otherwise I fear particularly for a generation that didn’t live through the events we’re now seeing in series four, they could mistake it for fact, and we accept that risk elsewhere and put the warning on and I think the same should apply to Netflix.’
Star Helena Bonham Carter previously said the show has a ‘moral responsibility’ to make it clear to viewers it is a drama and not historical fact.
In an interview recorded for The Crown’s official podcast after filming on season four finished earlier this year, Helena, 54, discussed the differences between ‘our version’ and the ‘real version.’
Dramatic: Emma and Josh co-starred as Princess Diana and Prince Charles, with series four offering a dramatic take on their turbulent marriage
Creator of The Crown, Peter Morgan, had previously appeared on the show’s official podcast to defend his right to creative licence.
However, Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, has indicated his support for a disclaimer being added.
He previously told ITV’s Lorraine: ‘I think it would help The Crown an enormous amount if, at the beginning of each episode, it stated that: ‘This isn’t true but it is based around some real events’.’
He added: ‘I worry people do think that this is gospel and that’s unfair.’
Defiant: Creator of The Crown, Peter Morgan, had previously defended his right to creative licence