For years now, there have been all kinds of royal “insiders,” Tory elders and completely random royal friends, all coming out to bash The Crown. While there was some criticism of the first three seasons, starting with Season 4 – the introduction of Princess Diana – and continuing to the current flurry of bullsh-t around Season 5, I have assumed that Charles is behind everything. Charles is the one who is furious about a prestige drama, he’s the one organizing this unhinged campaign, and it’s all about his history, his behavior, his actions. But what if other people have their own separate agendas? Here we have Judi Dench, who wrote a hilarious screed against The Crown last week. The crux of her argument was that Americans are too dumb to know that The Crown is a dramatization and that there should be a disclaimer on the show for dumb Americans. Considering Dench’s friendship with Charles and Camilla, I thought they put her up to writing that asinine letter. Turns out, she had her own reasons for whining about The Crown.
Dame Judi Dench reportedly seriously considered joining the cast of Netflix’s The Crown for its fifth season. The esteemed actress, 87, is said to have been sent a script while talking to the royal drama’s producers about taking the role of the Queen Mother – a character which was eventually taken on by actress Marcia Warren. And the revelation comes after Dame Judi branded the series’ plotlines ‘cruelly unjust’ as she slammed the show, blaming it for crude sensationalism.
According to The Times, sources alleged that both The Crown and Dame Judi were ‘taking it seriously’ when in talks for her to join season five.
But the publication noted that there was conflict between the actress and producers over the Queen Mother being a relatively small role for the star, alongside disputes on the size of fee she would get for the role.
The Crown ensures that whichever actress is playing Queen Elizabeth II in the show, currently Imelda Staunton, receives the highest level of pay.
Dame Judi, who has played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria in past roles, also has a close relationship with the royal family and often fronts events – such as this year’s Jubilee celebrations – leading to worries she could damage their friendship.
I’m a bit surprised that the Mail and the Times reported on this and did some digging. Perhaps it was Netflix leaking it too, but whoever put this information out there did it to make Dench look like a petty, unprofessional a–hole. Dench clearly wanted a part on The Crown but she wanted the Queen Mum to have a bigger role and she wanted to get paid more. Netflix turned her down. So Dench’s letter last week looks like sour grapes. Yeah… it was most likely Netflix leaking this, right? LMAO, Netflix is not playing with these fools. Charles and his people better sleep with one eye open, the Netflix boogeymen are coming.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Dame Judi Dench visits the Hilliers Nurseries Exhibit in the Great Pavilion at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, SW3 4SR on VIP & Press Day on Monday 20 May 2019. For a number of years Hillier has been working with growers and breeders in the USA and Durope to develop an elm that is fully resiistant to Dutch Elm Disease, which struck Britain in the late 1960’s and wiped out more than 30 million mature trees. Picture shows Dame Judi Dench, who visited the Hilliers Exhibit to launch the re-elming of the British Countryside starting this year.,Image: 511871405, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Sue Andrews / Avalon
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- Dame Judi Dench at the 21ST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS at Old Billingsgate, London, photo by Bran Jordan,Image: 534806974, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: B2820 / Avalon
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- The Duchess of Cornwall (second left) with Dame Antonia Fraser (left), Dame Edna O’Brien (second right) and Dame Judy Dench, at a reception hosted by The Duchess of Cornwall for ‘The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room’, a hub for literary communities around the world, which celebrates literature in all its forms. Picture date: Tuesday October 26, 2021. Inspired by the success of Her Royal Highness’s reading lists shared during the pandemic in 2020, the Reading Room channel offers new seasons of book recommendations, as well as exclusive insight from the authors themselves, in a community space for book lovers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.,Image: 639939231, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Jones / Avalon
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- USA Rights Only – Isle of Wight, UK -20180724-Camilla Duchess of Cornwall enjoys an ice cream with Dame Judi Dench as she arrives at Queen Victoria’s private beach, next to the monarch’s holiday home in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Dame Judi, patron of the Friends of Osborne House, will show Camilla the newly restored Durbar Room, which was one of the locations for the film Victoria and Abdul in which she played Queen Victoria. -PICTURED: Judi Dench and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall -PHOTO by: Andrew Matthews/PA Images/INSTARimages.com -37720058.jpg This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Featuring: Judi Dench and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall Where: Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom When: 24 Jul 2018 Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Images/INSTARimages.com **USA Rights Only**
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- USA Rights Only – Isle of Wight, UK -20180724-Camilla Duchess of Cornwall enjoys an ice cream with Dame Judi Dench as she arrives at Queen Victoria’s private beach, next to the monarch’s holiday home in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Dame Judi, patron of the Friends of Osborne House, will show Camilla the newly restored Durbar Room, which was one of the locations for the film Victoria and Abdul in which she played Queen Victoria. -PICTURED: Judi Dench and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall -PHOTO by: Andrew Matthews/PA Images/INSTARimages.com -37720060.jpg This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Featuring: Judi Dench and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall Where: Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom When: 24 Jul 2018 Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Images/INSTARimages.com **USA Rights Only**
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- North America Rights Only – London, UK -20211026- The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room Reception. -PICTURED: Dame Judy Dench, Duchess of Cornwall -PHOTO by: INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing Featuring: Judy Dench, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 26 Oct 2021 Credit: INSTARimages.com **North America Rights Only**
LOLOLOL. So the Crown was good enough when she wanted a role in it, but not good enough now that the Crown went with someone else??
I don’t blame Dench for passing on the role (or Netflix for saying no to her demands, whichever it was) – if she wanted more money and a bigger role and Netflix was like “that’s not the story arc we’re going with for these seasons,” then it makes sense that it just didn’t work out.
But it sure makes that letter last week seem petty, doesnt it?
Hahahahahahaha! Funny she didn’t mention THIS in her letter to the Times… I agree with everything you said @Becks1
I have loved Judi Dench since I saw her in As Time Goes By so this is really disappointing.
Yes! I’m so bummed by this whole thing. She has been a favorite for of mine for so long. I had no idea she was tight with the Rottweiler, sigh…
I loved her as Eleanor Lavish in Room With A View.
Sigh.
Same.
As Time Goes By was a favorite show. That’s all I’ve got.
LOL. Judi should have kept out of this.
“The Crown ensures that whichever actress is playing Queen Elizabeth II in the show, currently Imelda Staunton, receives the highest level of pay.”
But the men with smaller roles still get paid more than the actress playing the Queen.
I know that was a thing in S1 (and S2?) because it was talked about, but have we heard if it was that way after that? Because I doubt Olivia Colman got paid less than any men on the show, and it seems they’re saying neither is Imelda Staunton.
Claire Foy was paid less than Matt Smith, IIRC, and I think he was the one who pushed for her to get more, and The Crown made an announcement at some point after that that no one would get paid more than the Queen.
Hah. Yeah, this absolutely comes from Netflix and I bet people in the industry know it does. Is going to be a little bit harder for Chuck to find another actor willing to shit on Netflix/The Crown now that it’s clear that they are willing to put them on the spot.
I’ve always liked Dame Judi and was disappointed when she came out against “The Crown.” It saddens me that her reputation is now tarnished because of her defence of her “friends.” I doubt very much that C&C will do likewise and (at the very least) thank her for her support because they of course “never complain and never explain.”
I hope the title was worth it Dame Judi? 🙁
A lot of people are disappointed by her comments, including myself, but I really doubt her reputation is “tarnished”.
I have bad news for you about how she defended Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein then.
I read that Morgan is now thinking of doing a prequel to The Crown. Dench is probably going to be up for the big role in that version, if the rumors are true. Her outrage will be soothed by the nice fat paycheck.
Dame Hypocrite!
Good on the production team for properly valuing Imelda and the other leads. Sounds like Charles and Camilla wanted a spy who could maybe also pressure the production if they didn’t like how the storyline was going. But Judi overplayed her hand and they went with a someone else. Salty, salty, salty.
Netflix is surely the one dropping those receipts, LMAO. This is glorious.
Meghan: l have receipts
Netflix: Hold my beer
LOLOLOLOLOL. Love this!
hahaah yesss
Huh. That’s surprising and disappointing. You would think that Judi Dench, of all people, wouldn’t need to have sour grapes about a role.
Wow. I don’t usually cheer corporations, but Go Netflix Go! Dench you sleazy-ass little grump. No integrity whatsoever! So amused to see this struggle between the Tampon and Netflix turn out this way. Such glee! One rarely sees rich celebrities outed this way, and I am so here for it. Now come on, Netflix, flex your muscles and take down a few more of these rich, entitled whiners! We are loving the hell out of it.
I can’t imagine her as the queen. Imelda Staunton is perfectly cast.
She was in talks to play the Queen Mother, not QEII.
Ohh. That makes sense!
If you’ve seen “Tea with the Dames” you may remember Maggie Smith joking about getting her “Downton” role “before Dench gets her paws on it”.
Dame Judi has managed her career very well (she goes back to Eleanor Lavish for me too, @lamejudi), and now she’s 87 and gets to be cranky, I guess.
(When I’m 87 I’ll probably be cranky too, but I hope funnier, but nobody will be listening.)
Dame Sour Grapes Shoulda Been Dench
Such a shame she stooped this low. How the mighty have fallen!
Living proof that if you wait for a while the truth starts to trickle out and people end up with egg on their faces.
Now Judy Dench just looks tacky and messy. There’s always an ulterior motive.