The Crown star Gillian Anderson has dismissed the row over whether the Netflix show should carry a disclaimer that it’s largely fictitious, calling the debate “drama for the sake of drama”.
The actor, who plays former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the series, even suggested some elements of the show could have gone further in their depiction of real-life events.
“It’s so obvious that we’re doing a TV show and that these are characters based on real-life people,” Gillian said told InStyle magazine.
“To me, it just felt like drama for the sake of drama. But I get that there are a lot of people invested.
“There’s a lot of stuff that could have been written about — but was not — that is so much worse than what ended up in the show.
“There has been kindness extended in certain areas where it didn’t have to be,” she said.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden is among those who think Netflix should be made to add a disclaimer to The Crown, previously saying: “It is a beautifully produced work of fiction, so as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that.
“Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.”
In December, Josh O’Connor – who plays Prince Charles in series three and four of The Crown – blasted Dowden’s comments, insisting: “In my opinion, it’s pretty outrageous that he came out and said what he said.
“Particularly in this time when he knows that the arts are struggling and they’re on their knees, I think it’s a bit of a low blow.”
Princess Diana actor Emma Corrin also said the row does “does a disservice to creativity, and imagination, and screenwriting, and scriptwriting”.
Helena Bonham Carter, who played Princess Margaret, disagrees, however, previously saying The Crown has a “moral responsibility” to make it clear to viewers that it is not historical fact.
Netflix recently made it clear that no such warning would be added to The Crown.
The Crown series one to four are streaming on Netflix now.