Fans and critics have praised and applauded multi-award-winning actor John Lithgow for his portrayal of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Netflix's The Crown.
Netflix's popular historical drama debuted in 2016 and quickly gained popularity among viewers for its dramatization of the inner workings of the Royal family. The American actor John Lithgow portrays the well-known British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, in Netflix's The Crown. It was created and written primarily by Peter Morgan, a former employee of Frost/Nixon. There will soon be a sixth season of Netflix's The Crown. The show has already aired five seasons.
Although it might seem inappropriate to cast an American in the part, executive producer Stephen Daldry had two good reasons for making the choice: Churchill's American heritage and Lithgow's theater background in England.
Even if his casting was puzzling or contentious, Lithgow's performance in season 1 was recognized with numerous awards, including the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The Crown, a Netflix series, recently wrapped up its most lauded season and is currently preparing for its sixth.
Why was John Lithgow chosen to portray Winston Churchill?
The first actress to portray Elizabeth Windsor in The Crown's historical drama, from her 1947 marriage to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to her eventual accession to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II, was Claire Foy. Early in her reign, she had numerous in-person encounters with Winston Churchill, the adored British Prime Minister, who was coping with the Great Smog of London at the time. Dexter's John Lithgow was cast in the pivotal role of Churchill in The Crown, which was an odd choice given that he was one of the only Americans among a myriad of British actors.
John Lithgow finally disclosed why he was chosen to play Winston Churchill on The Crown during an appearance on GQ's ongoing video series, in which actors analyze their most famous characters. Lithgow reveals that because of Churchill's close ties to America, the show's creators wanted a non-British actor to play the role.
John Lithgow said, "I went to drama school in London many years ago. So there's this sort of English thread. I'm about as English as an American actor can get without being pretentious. You know, when you think about Churchill, he's as different from every other Englishman as any American is. He's eccentric. They just loved the idea. We've seen Burton do it. And Albert Finney did it. And there were a whole raft of them that year. And all of them were Englishmen. Churchill's mother was an American, for one thing. That's the first thing Steven told me when I asked him, Why'd you cast me? And he had this affinity for America. I may be terrified of playing this role, but they think it's a great idea, so I'll go with that."
Who is John Lithgow?
The American actor John Arthur Lithgow was born on October 19, 1945. Before becoming well-known for his work on stage and screen, Lithgow attended Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art for his education. Numerous honors have been bestowed upon him, including two Tony Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards.
Additionally, he has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and two Academy Awards. Both the American Theater Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame have awarded Lithgow with stars.
Sarah Jane Lithgow, John's mother, was a former actress. His father, Arthur Washington Lithgow III, was a theater producer and director who oversaw Princeton, New Jersey's McCarter Theatre. His great-grandfather was a vice consul and vice commercial agent in the Dominican Republic; his father was born there to a European-American family. His older brother, David Lithgow, his older sister, Robin Lithgow, and his younger sister, Sarah Jane Boaker, are his siblings. He is the third of four children.
In 1963, Lithgow received his high school diploma from Princeton. He then attended Harvard College to study English and history. Lithgow resided in Adams House while a student and later served on the board of overseers for Harvard. He attributes his decision to become an actor to seeing a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Utopia Limited at Harvard.
What is the plot of The Crown?
The life of Queen Elizabeth II is portrayed in The Crown, from her 1947 nuptials to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to the dawn of the twenty-first century. The first season covers the years leading up to 1955, when Princess Margaret decided not to wed Peter Townsend and Winston Churchill resigned as prime minister.
The Suez Crisis in 1956, which caused Prime Minister Anthony Eden to resign in 1957, the resignation of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1963 as a result of the Profumo affair scandal, and the birth of Prince Edward in 1964 are all covered in the second season.
The third season, which also includes Edward Heath's tenure as prime minister, spans the years 1964–1977, starting with Harold Wilson's election as prime minister and ending with the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Additionally, Camilla Shand is introduced.
The fourth season centers on Lady Diana Spencer and is set between 1979 and 1990, when Margaret Thatcher served as prime minister.
The fifth season, which spans the years 1991 to 1997, focuses on the "War of the Waleses" and the divorce it caused between Diana and Prince Charles, as well as the ascent of the Al-Fayed family and Queen Elizabeth II's "annus horribilis" in 1992.
FAQs
Q. Who portrayed Winston Churchill in Netflix’s The Crown?
A. John Lithgow, an American actor, portrays Winston Churchill in the series, The Crown.
Q. What is the net worth of John Lithgow?
A. The net worth of John Lithgow is estimated to be at $50 million, as of 2022.
Q. What was the budget of The Crown season one?
A. The Crown is one of the highest budgeted Netflix series with a $260 million season one budget.
