When someone is 90, and you've seen their entire life, you just think you know everything about them and that they must live a straight-laced life.

In the first two episodes, before she becomes Queen, I could be a lot freer with my emotions, but as the series goes on, she develops an armour in order to cope with her circumstances. She has to be a sphinx, which must be so hard. Imagine never being able to shout, 'Shut up,' or cry, even in front of your own family.

There is no first-hand account of what the Queen was saying or thinking, so my job as an actor is to interpret her circumstances.

Claire Foy Quotes