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The Industry
Erin Doherty as 'Princess Anne' in 'The Crown' smiling

Image credit: Des Willie / Still From The Crown

‘The Crown’ actress Erin Doherty relives her audition for ‘Princess Anne’ and how she prepared for the callback.

From stage to screen, Erin Doherty has been a part of some truly exciting productions: The Crucible at the National Theatre, Les Miserables and Call the Midwife for the BBC, A Thousand Blows for Disney Plus, and many more.

Her crowning achievement has to be portraying young Princess Anne in seasons three and four of the hit, award-winning series The Crown alongside co-stars Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Charles Dance and Tobias Menzies. The role earned her a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2020, and a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Critic’s Pick Award from MyEntertainmentWorld in 2021.

At the CDG Awards 2024 we had the chance to ask her how she realised her royal role. Here’s what she shared, and why it’s important to make sure ‘you’re on your stuff enough’:

Hi, Erin! Can you tell us about the audition process?

Okay, so I got the call. I was doing a play at the time, and got the call from my agent, like, “They want to see you for this thing.” And I didn’t know who Princess Anne was, so I did my research. I went in for the first meeting. That would’ve been in January, and then I got called back again in April and had to wait.

So it was a whole process of waiting and going away and doing your research, and just making sure you’re on your stuff enough that, if the phone did ring, you’re ready to go in there and smash it as much as you could. 

So that was what it was. And, like I say, it was a lot of YouTube clips and walking around listening to her, because they have the most insane accent. And, yeah, it went all right!

Thank you, Erin, for sharing your story of success with us! ‘The Crown’ is available to watch on Netflix and Apple TV in the UK.

Take a look at our website for more interviews with actors, agents and casting directors.