LIFE & CULTURE

The Real-Life Partners Of ‘The Crown’ Cast

There's a lot of inter-actor dating here

When Netflix released The Crown in 2016, the world unexpectedly turned royalist again, enraptured by the series’ sophisticated portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in their early years.

With the original cast—including Claire Foy, Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby—leaving the show to make way for the next generation of actors, who will portray the royal family in the ’60s and ’70s, the hype around the cult show is only set to continue.

The trailer for season four (including your first look at Emma Corrin as Princess Diana) has recently been released ahead of the November 2020 drop. In the meantime, we’re doing a deep dive on the romantic relationships of the series’ actors.

From Matt Smith to Vanessa Kirby, these are the real life partners of the stars of The Crown—all seasons.

Olivia Colman

The Crown cast and their partners

Olivia Colman, who picked up where Claire Foy left off as Queen Elizabeth II in seasons three and four of The Crown, met her husband, Ed Sinclar, when they were both 20, starring in a play together in London. She has since said she fell in love with him at first sight: “[I thought] that’s the bloke I’m going to marry… for me it was thunderbolts straight away.” Colman and Sinclair have three children together.

The Crown cast and their partners
Olivia Colman and Ed Sinclair in 2018

Tobias Menzies

The Crown cast and their partners
The Crown cast and their partners

Helena Bonham Carter played Princess Margaret in The Crown. The actress began a relationship with director Tim Burton in 2001, with the pair welcoming two children in 2003 and 2007 respectively. In 2014 Bonham Carter and Burton revealed they had separated. The usually-private actress spoke to Harper’s BAZAAR about the separation, saying: “With divorce, you go through massive grief—it is a death of a relationship, so it’s utterly bewildering. Your identity, everything, changes.”

The Crown cast and their partners
Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton

Josh O’Connor

The Crown cast and their partners

Josh O’Connor joined the cast as ‘The Firm’ as Prince Charles in season three. As of right now, he doesn’t appear to be linked to anyone.

Emerald Fennell

The Crown cast and their partners
The Crown cast and their partners
The Crown cast and their partners
Claire Foy and Stephen Campbell Moore

Matt Smith

Matt Smith

Matt Smith, who portrays Prince Philip, dated Baby Driver and Mamma Mia 2 star Lily James from 2014, when they met on the set of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  In 2018 reports emerged that the pair were engaged, after James attended the BAFTAs with a sizable diamond on her ring finger. However, according to The Daily Mail, recent paparazzi photos look to prove that Smith is now single.

Matt Smith and Lily James
Matt Smith and Lily James at the 2017 Met Gala

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby
Vanessa Kirby
Vanessa Kirby and Callum Turner in 2017

Matthew Goode

Matthew Goode
Matthew Goode
Matthew Goode and Sophie Dymoke in 2015

Greg Wise

Greg Wise

Greg Wise, who portrayed Prince Philip’s polarising uncle, Lord Mountbatten, in seasons one and two of The Crown, married Oscar-winning actress and writer Emma Thompson in 2003. The pair met on the set of Sense and Sensibility in 1995 (Thompson won the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for the film the following year), and married in 2003. Their daughter, Gaia, was born in 1998.

Greg Wise
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise

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