The Crown bosses have found their third and final Princess Margaret.
Oscar nominee Lesley Manville is set to take on the role in the fifth series of the hit drama, starring opposite Imedla Staunton, who has already been confirmed to play the Queen.
After tabloid reports revealed Manville's appointment, the actress confirmed the news and said she “could not be happier” about signing up.
In a statement posted on Twitter, she said: “I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret. The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down.
“Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy.”
Characters from The Crown Series 3 versus real life
The character of Princess Margaret has been a huge hit with The Crown fans so far, as have the two stars who have played her; Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter.
Kirby won a Best Supporting Actress Bafta for her star turn as the Queen’s little sister and Bonham Carter was recently nominated for the same accolade at this year’s delayed TV Baftas.
Confirming Staunton will play the monarch, Netflix announced in January that the fifth series of The Crown will be the final one.
Creator Peter Morgan explained: “At the outset I had imagined The Crown running for six seasons but now that we have begun work on the stories for season five, it has become clear to me that this is the perfect time and place to stop.
The writer added that the series will take the show “into the 21st century,” which appears to suggest it will follow the royals until at least the mid-00s.
The series will also feature Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher.
See the real-life storylines the final series could cover here.
