Josh O’Connor, the actor who brought a young King Charles to life in The Crown, has shared his curiosity about what the British monarch thinks of his portrayal. The 34-year-old actor, who starred as the then-Prince of Wales in the third and fourth seasons of the Netflix drama, expressed a genuine interest in hearing the royal’s thoughts on his performance.
In an interview with The Mirror, O’Connor was asked if he had received any feedback from King Charles himself. He responded, “No, I’m the same as you. I’d love to know. I’ve not heard a thing. I guess he’s been quite busy.” Despite the lack of direct comments from the king, O’Connor expressed his admiration for him, stating, “My heart goes out to him in these times. But I’ve said it many times, I have great affection for him. I don’t know him [but] for the person who I’ve done lots of research on, like a weird stalker. He’s done an awful lot of good, in spite of a pretty bizarre life.”
The actor also opened up about the pressure he felt when he first took on the role of the future monarch. O’Connor admitted that he wasn’t initially thrilled about portraying a real-life person, especially someone as iconic as Prince Charles. He said, “The prospect of playing someone who exists, particularly someone who is present in our national psyche, was very daunting.” However, he soon shifted his mindset, treating the role like any other character he would play, focusing on the research and script rather than the challenge of portraying someone so widely known.
“These are characters. When I started working on Charles, I wasn’t overly excited at the idea of playing a real person. I just don’t want to feel guilty. This is how I excuse myself,” O’Connor explained.
Despite his reservations, the actor’s deep respect for the character of Prince Charles and his careful approach to the role helped him deliver a memorable performance. His portrayal reflected not just the personal struggles and triumphs of the royal but also the complexities of being in the public eye.
As O’Connor continues to reflect on his portrayal of Prince Charles, it remains to be seen whether the king will ever share his thoughts on the actor’s work. Until then, O’Connor remains humbled by the opportunity to bring such an important figure to life on screen.
