Judi Dench calls “The Crown” “cruelly unjust” and demands a Netflix disclaimer

Judi Dench criticized the representation of the British royal family in the Netflix miniseries “The Crown” in an open letter to The Times UK.

The program has come under fire for its fictitious reconstruction of historical events since it began in 2016, and as the plot creeps toward the present, the show has absorbed even more flak. Dench observed, “The closer the drama is to the present, the more inclined it appears to be to blur the lines between historical authenticity and vulgar sensationalism.”

“No one believes in artistic freedom more than I do, but this cannot stand,” she continued.

Elizabeth Debicki will portray Princess Diana in “The Crown” seasons five and six.
Elizabeth Debicki states that Princess Diana wore a revenge dress.

Dench identified particular storylines from “The Crown” that she felt were detrimental to the monarchy.

“Given some of the wounding suggestions apparently contained in the new series — that King Charles plotted for his mother to abdicate, for instance, or that he once suggested his mother’s parenting was so deficient that she may have deserved a prison sentence — this is both cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent,” she continued.

Dench suggested that Netflix add a disclaimer to the show so that viewers are aware they are viewing a fictional work.

Imelda Staunton will portray Queen Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown’ seasons 5 and 6.

Netflix versus Getty Images

The creator of “The Crown,” Peter Morgan, has repeatedly stated that the series is not meant to be historically accurate. Dench remarked that more should be done to distinguish the program as a drama, as opposed to a documentary.

“The producers of the program have resisted all requests to include a disclaimer at the beginning of each episode,” she continued.

Dench has portrayed historical personalities throughout her career. In 2011, she portrayed Annie Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover’s mother, in “J. Edgar” and Dame Agnes Sybil Thorndike in “My Week with Marilyn.” She has also portrayed members of the royal family, notably Queen Victoria in “Mrs. Brown” (1997) and “Victoria & Abdul” (2017).

Other fictitious programs about the British and French royal families, such as “The Tudors,” “The White Queen,” “The Spanish Queen,” “The Serpent Queen,” and “Reign,” have been produced without disclaimers.

Showtime aired “The Tudors” from 2007 to 2010.

Showtime

Dench argued that “The Crown” could be considered insulting in light of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.

“The moment has come for Netflix to reconsider – for the benefit of a recently bereaved family and nation, as a measure of respect for a monarch who served her people so faithfully for 70 years, and to preserve their own reputation in the eyes of their British consumers.”

The fifth season of “The Crown” begins on November 9 on Netflix.