Publications
Prince Philip was considered the most famous husband in the world, thanks to his seven-decade marriage to Queen Elizabeth.
Their fairy-tale love story, coupled with his dashing good looks, often saw Philip finding his way onto screens in the many films and series that were made about the British royal family.
Now with his death, there may well be a biopic that comes out of Hollywood in the next few years. We take a look at the actors who have already portrayed the royal.
Finn Elliot, Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies & Jonathan Pryce: The Crown (2021)
In the popular Netflix series about the British royals, there have been various actors who have played the duke in different stages of his life.British actors Matt Smith (38) and Finn Elliot (18) played a younger Philip in the first two seasons of the series, followed by Game of Thrones actor Tobias Menzies (47) in the third and fourth.
Playing Philip was “very interesting”, Matt says. “He’s torn between the duty to his wife and a duty to himself. No other man in that period would kneel before his wife or walk two feet behind her – that was very difficult for him.”
Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce (73) takes up the reins of the duke in the fifth and sixth seasons opposite Imelda Staunton’s Queen Elizabeth. Jonathan, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Netflix’s The Two Popes last year, says the series “gave me the confidence to tackle the daunting prospect of playing Philip”.
Tom Courtenay: The Queen’s Corgi (2019)
In this animated romp, the legendary English film and stage actor lent his voice to the duke, who is slightly perturbed by his wife’s devotion to her corgis. “Philip didn’t like the Corgis,” the 84-year-old Oscar nominee once said. “They bite.”
James Cromwell: The Queen (2006)
The well-known American actor was picked to play the duke opposite Dame Helen Mirren in 2006’s The Queen, a role that earned the British actress an Academy Award.The New York Times said Cromwell purposely played Philip as a “dim bulb”, a performance that was generally well received.
David Threlfall: The Queen’s Sister (2005)
Best known as the disheveled patriarch in the original UK version of Shameless, the 67-year-old actor portrayed the more buttoned-up royal in a BBC movie about the early life of Princess Margaret.
Donald Douglas: Diana: Her True Story (1993)
The Scottish actor (88) played Philip in this TV movie based on Andrew Morton’s tell-all about the epic split of Prince Charles and Diana.
Christopher Lee: Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story (1982)
Veteran British actor Lee, who died in 2015, took on the role of the duke in this ABC TV movie. He later played the evil Saruman in The Lord of the Rings franchise and Count Dooku in the Star Wars films.In 2009 he was knighted by Prince Charles for his services to film.
Stewart Granger: The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana (1982)
British actor Granger, who died in 1993, was an old friend of Prince Philip. The duke was reportedly thoroughly thrilled to have his pal play him in this CBS TV movie.
SOURCES: LATIMES.COM, THEWRAP.COM
