Jonathan Pryce is none too happy with Judi Dench and his “fellow artistes” for publicly criticizing “The Crown.”
The 75-year-old will be playing an older version of the late Prince Philip in the upcoming Season 5 as well as the sixth and final season of the popular royal drama.
The British actor recently slammed actress Judi Dench and others who aspersed the series for demanding it carry a warning regarding fictional storylines about the royal family.
He told Deadline ahead of Season 5’s Nov. 9 premiere that he’s ”bitterly disappointed” by those who shamed the Peter Morgan series.
Dench, 87, had earlier this month revealed her thoughts about the show to the Times, in which she deemed the series “cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent.”
Following backlash, Netflix added a disclaimer to the series description for a trailer that was released earlier this month.
Pryce added, “The vast majority of people know it’s a drama. They’ve been watching it for four seasons.”
The “Two Popes” star believes that the recent public disapproval arose due to an “enhanced sensitivity because of the passing of the queen.”
Queen Elizabeth passed away at the age of 96 on Sept. 8 after seven decades on the throne.
Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville, who are playing the queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, in the new season, have echoed Pryce’s sentiments.
Manville, 66, noted how the anger towards Netflix is “certainly heightened” after the death of the monarch. “There is, and for my part as well, a great deal of compassion towards the queen, and depths of feeling that she is no longer with us,” the “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” actress told the outlet.
She explained that viewers need to be aware that “The Crown” is, in fact, a fictionalized drama and that’s all.
“In a way, it is understandable. It is understandable people still feel a bit … like their nerve endings are still a little bit raw,” Staunton, 66, added.
However, she continued, “We’re in it … so we don’t think it’s undignified. We think it’s honest and true and respectful.”
“Peter Morgan’s been writing about the queen since Helen Mirren [was in ‘The Queen’]. He obviously adores this family in many ways, and he’ll show both sides of the characters, for good or for worse. He’ll show them and make no judgement, he’ll leave that up to the audience,” Staunton said.
Season 5 will take a look at the Firm through the early to mid-1990s, with other stars including Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as the then-Prince Charles (now king) and the late Princess Diana.