Dominic West reveals why he couldn’t turn down Prince Charles role in The Crown

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Dominic West reveals why he couldn’t turn down Prince Charles role in The Crown

The last actor from 'The Wire' took on the role of the former prince in the popular Netflix series.

Dominic West has provided some perspective on his straightforward choice to take on the role of Prince Charles in The Crown.

The 56-year-old actor graced the screen during the fifth and sixth seasons of the Netflix series, which depicts the British royal family's saga from the 1950s to the early 2000s.

In his role as the former prince, West depicted Charles responding to the premature passing of his ex-wife, Princess Diana (portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki), navigating the aftermath, and ultimately marrying Camilla (played by Olivia Williams).

During the January 5th episode of The Graham Norton Show, West discussed embracing the role of the monarch.

"There was immense pressure on The Crown due to its prior success, and Josh did an excellent job," he began, alluding to Josh O’Connor’s portrayal of a younger Prince Charles in seasons three and four.

"Ultimately, you have to choose roles that resonate with you; opportunities like that don't come by often," West continued.

"When you're offered a compelling role like that, you can't pass it up. I thoroughly enjoyed portraying him; it was a fantastic experience."

The actor, renowned for his performances in The Wire and The Affair, then shared some of his reliable techniques for embodying the character of Charles, including emphasizing his words with animated gestures, such as pointing.

"I've watched numerous documentaries featuring him, including one where he conversed with Jonathan Dimbleby," West recounted.

"He's aboard an aircraft, expressing, 'I engage in this not for personal gain, you know – but for the well-being of dear old Britain.'"

"It was quite amusing, the whole 'jolly old Britain' routine. Every time I attempted to connect with him on set, I'd simply utter 'jolly old Britain,' and that did the trick. I was in."

Earlier, West had acknowledged the improbability of being knighted in the future, given his participation in the program.

"I guess I had to give up the possibility of receiving the British Empire Medal for my contributions to acting," he mentioned during his BBC Radio interview. "It was fine for Jonathan Pryce, the actor portraying Prince Philip, as he had already been knighted."

West elaborated on his prior encounters with Prince Charles, stating, "I have met him before, having done some work for the Prince’s Trust. I've stood in line and shook his hand a couple of times, so it wasn't particularly intimate."

Nevertheless, West noted that after assuming the role, "those invitations stopped coming in."