The Crown is back, with a fresh cast joining the historical drama as it proceeds through the years, tracking the Royal Family into the 1990s. With Dominic West taking over from Josh O’Connor to play the King (then Prince Charles), the show’s casting team looked close to home when it came to finding an actor to play a young Prince William: choosing West’s real-life son, 13-year-old Senan, for the role.
The traditional dance dates back to when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert would throw a summer party for their staff, known in Gaelic as ‘ghillies’
Senan will appear in the final episodes of Season 5 as a ‘slightly older’ William, once he begins to mature into his teenage years. The appearance in the major Netflix show is Senan’s first on-screen role – and indeed his first acting role of any kind. Speaking to Town and Country, his father revealed that the decision was taken after a casting agent told West that they were having trouble filling the role. Senan then reportedly submitted a taped audition via his agent.
On learning that his son had been cast, West said he told Senan: ‘Do you know how lucky you are? Bloody lucky!’ He added that he was keen for Senan to make the most of the opportunity to work with such accomplished actors, telling him to ‘listen and enjoy and learn’ when filming his first scene, in which he has tea with the late Queen, portrayed by the ‘amazing’ Imelda Staunton.
Creator Peter Morgan says it was inspired by Dominic West’s ‘powerful’ performance
On the upsides – and downsides – of working with his real-life son, West noted: ‘What was great [was the] shortcut to a sort of tactile intimacy that you have with your kids that no one else has.’ He added that at moments when the characters’ relationship grows more strained, however he, ‘felt a bit uncomfortable’, and was relieved that older actors would be continuing the role in Season 6.
Elsewhere in the interview, West expressed his initial trepidation about playing the King, saying he was concerned he had been ‘horribly miscast’ (due to their lack of physical resemblance) and felt ‘very apprehensive.’ He stresses: ‘I’m a big fan of Prince Charles, as he was… I didn’t want to be doing anything to upset his mission.’ Ultimately, however, he was won over by the opportunity to experience ‘what you live for as an actor’: ‘great parts with great writing and on a great show.’
The King’s wife reportedly jokingly addressed the actor as ‘Your Majesty’ during an engagement last year
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