It was announced in early 2020 that Staunton would be portraying the monarch — who passed away on September 8 at the age of 96 after a record-breaking 70-year reign.
At the time, she released a statement that read: "I have loved watching 'The Crown' from the very start. As an actor, it was a joy to see how both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman brought something special and unique to Peter Morgan's scripts. I am genuinely honored to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking 'The Crown' to its conclusion."
Staunton is the third actor to do so, following Claire Foy (seasons one and two) and Olivia Colman (seasons three and four). She will play the Queen throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, which is where the series will conclude.
Viewers will most likely recognize Staunton from her role as Dolores Umbridge in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007), although her acting career has spanned more than 35 years. She first rose to fame for her theatrical work before receiving critical acclaim for her Oscar-nominated performance in "Vera Drake" (2004).