The Crown star Emma Corrin has revealed she asked scriptwriters to add in graphic bulimia scenes to depict Princess Diana‘s battle with the eating disorder.
Speaking to the Radio Times with Prince Charles actor Josh O’Connor, days before the premiere of series four, the actress, 24, said she wanted to include scenes of Diana vomiting to portray the eating disorder in an ‘honest way.’
Speaking of the scenes, which Emma developed with her movement coach, she said: ‘We’d been working on her body language and we put together a document that we sent to the script team and said: “Can you include some of this in the writing because we’d love to really flesh out those scenes?”
Candid: The Crown star Emma Corrin has revealed she asked scriptwriters to add in graphic bulimia scenes to depict Princess Diana’s battle with the eating disorder (above with Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles)
‘I felt that if we were trying to depict bulimia in an honest way, we had to actually show it – otherwise it’s a disservice to anyone who has been through that.
‘I don’t think we should shy away from those conversations; Diana was very candid about her experience with bulimia and I so admire that.’
Diana herself first revealed her battle with bulimia during her bombshell Panorama interview with Martin Bashir in 1995.
Emma said she related to pressure put on young women to be ‘thin and glamorous’ and that social media placed further importance on people to ‘be a certain way.’
The role of Princess Diana has given Emma time to contemplate life in ‘The Firm’ but she admitted she would ‘run a mile’ if any of the Royals proposed to her and that she ‘felt sorry for them’ in their ‘impossible situation’.
Struggle: The actress, 24, said she admired the late princess for speaking candidly about bulimia and wanted to include scenes of Diana vomiting in a new interview with the Radio Times
Important: Emma said: ‘I don’t think we should shy away from those conversations; Diana was very candid about her experience with bulimia and I so admire that’ (Diana is pictured in 1985)
Emma and Josh have seen their stars rise since landing the royal roles, with Emma praising Queen Elizabeth II actress Olivia Colman and Princess Margaret star Helena Bonham Carter for ‘protecting her.’
Emma will be replaced by Elizabeth Debicki for series five of the Crown with Dominic West rumoured to be taking on the role of Prince Charles.
The Crown will include a warning for viewers ahead of episodes that will feature Princess Diana‘s battle with bulimia.
A spokesperson explained that series four will feature a disclaimer to inform viewers of the upcoming scenes that will depict the Princess’ struggles with the eating disorder.
The Crown’s much anticipated fourth series will introduced Diana and her entrance in the Royal Family after marrying Princes Charles in 1981, with newcomer Emma Corrin set to play the iconic role.
According to The Sun, the on-screen warning will feature in three of The Crown’s ten episodes in series four, which will depict the Royals from 1979 to 1990.
It is thought to read: ‘The following episode includes scenes of an eating disorder which some viewers may find troubling. Viewers discretion is required.’
Sources also claimed that viewers will see Diana’s struggle with bulimia as her marriage to Charles crumbles, after developing the disorder during their engagement.
A spokesperson for Netflix told the publication: ‘The Crown producers worked closely with the eating disorder charity, BEAT, to ensure that their portrayal of Princess Diana’s bulimia was both accurate to the disorder and sensitively handled.
‘When viewers watch the series on Netflix they will see warning cards at the beginning of the episodes giving details of how to seek help if required.’
MailOnline contacted representatives for The Crown for further comment at the time.
It’s thought that the troubling scenes will see Diana gorge on desserts before making herself sick after struggling with the loneliness of living in Buckingham Palace.
Emotional: Diana herself first revealed her battle with bulimia during her bombshell Panorama interview with Martin Bashir in 1995 (pictured L is Emma in the show, R, Diana in 1983)
Fairytale? The Crown’s fourth series will focus on the early romance and later marriage of Charles and Diana, after the Prince felt pressure by the Royal Family to find a wife
A later episode also sees Diana going through the same upsetting ordeal, after an argument with Charles (played by Josh O’ Connor) about her popularity following a Royal tour in Australia in 1983.
During her interview with Bashir in 1995, Diana said of her bulimia: ‘You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable.
‘You fill your stomach up four or five times a day – some do it more – and it gives you a feeling of comfort.
‘I was crying out for help, but giving the wrong signals, and people were using my bulimia as a coat on a hanger: they decided that was the problem – Diana was unstable.’
Diana and Charles separated in 1991 after 10 years of marriage, and divorced five years late. The Princess was then tragically killed in a car accident in 1997 aged 36.
Family: The Crown’s much anticipated fourth series will introduced Diana and her entrance in the Royal Family after marrying Princes Charles in 1981 (pictured in the show)
The Crown’s fourth series will focus on the early romance and later marriage of Charles and Diana, after the Prince felt pressure by the Royal Family to find a wife.
Prince Charles actor Josh, 29, told Radio Times he had been ‘fearful’ about returning for his second series as the royal due to the introduction of Diana and his desire not to play a ‘villain.’
The run-up to the couple’s 1981 is also depicted including the tensions behind the scenes at the wedding rehearsal.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown shutting down production a week before filming was slated to end, the current cast did not get to film their final scenes or have a wrap party.
The Durrells actor Josh said he ‘watched documentaries and read articles’ on Charles to get the closure he needed and bid farewell to the role.
The latest trailer offered fans a glimpse of Charles’ infidelity with ex Camilla Parker-Bowles, who he famously went onto marry in 2005 after Diana’s death.
It will see dark times for the royals as they face yet more political and social upheaval with the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister.
The trailer is narrated with a recording of the actual speech given by the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie during Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981, when he famously said of their marriage: ‘Here is the stuff of which fairy tales are made.’
As tensions rise in the Royal Household, Princess Margaret faces a nasty health scare after being rushed into surgery to remove a ‘small part of her lung,’ caused by years of heavy smoking.
Charles and Diana then embark on a historic tour of Australia where they are greeted by thousands of well-wishers, though it seems the Prince is at odds with his father Prince Phillip (Tobias Menzies) about his marriage, given there is a moment of disagreement between the pair.
It’s been claimed that Phillip ordered Charles to propose to Diana as opposed to stringing her along for months on end, and the trailer does show a glimpse of the moment their engagement was announced in 1981.
While from the outset Charles and Diana’s relationship seems to be the perfect fairy tale, their relationship seems to crumble quickly as the trailer shows them arguing in the middle of a church.
Blushing bride: Fans have already been given a first look at Princess Diana’s wedding dress from the upcoming fourth series. Left is Emma in the homage and right Princess Diana on her wedding day
The Royal Family is once again hit by tragedy as they attend the funeral of Lord Mountbatten, after he was assassinated by a bomb hidden aboard his fishing boat in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
Coming soon: The full interview can be found in the latest issue of Radio Times
The preview then launches into a montage showing yet more drama besetting the Royal Family, including the Queen’s address to the World’s leaders, with Prime Minister Thatcher watching on, and Diana’s ongoing struggle to conform.
It ends with an image of the Princess clad in her beautiful David Emanuel wedding gown, beaming at the prospect of her impending nuptials as the veil is placed on her face.
On creating Diana, The Crown creator Peter Morgan said: ‘Diana now has a historical perspective. I am really conscious of that. I really don’t want to get too close so that what I do is journalistic.
‘I really want to make sure that there is enough distance so that if you tell the story of Diana it can almost be something else. It can have metaphorical resonance.
If you have been affected by this story you can call BEAT at 0808 801 0677.
The Crown series four is released on Netflix on Sunday, November 15th.
Return: Olivia Colman will return as Queen Elizabeth II for the acclaimed drama
Pivotal moments from The Crown so far…
King Edward VIII abdicates the throne for love
Edward fell in love with Wallis Simpson, a married woman, and planned to marry her after his coronation when her divorce had come through.
However they were denied the opportunity to marry and due to divorce being forbidden for the Royals and decided to move to France together.
Edward later returned to England to face his family for the funeral of George VI following his death and went on to form a close bond with Prince Charles.
Bigger picture: King Edward VIII abdicates the throne for love
Princess Margaret is also denied her happy ending
Princess Margaret, who is painted as the Royal rebel throughout the first and second seasons, hoped to step outside tradition and marry divorcee Peter Townsend.
However growing public chatter over the illicit relationship begins to overshadow Elizabeth’s post coronation fame.
Margaret makes her intentions to marry Peter clear to Queen Elizabeth II and she asks her to wait until she is 25 to tie the knot with her love.
However when her 25th birthday does roll around the Queen has to go back on her word due to pressure from the Crown, and tells Margaret that she cannot grant her permission to marry Peter.
Devastated: Princess Margaret is denied her happy ending with Peter Townsend
Winston Churchill’s rise and fall
The first and second seasons depicted the Queen’s relationship with the Prime Minister of the time, Winston Churchill.
Following his successful leadership during the Second World War, Winston rises to power again for a second time during Elizabeth’s reign.
The Crown follows Winston’s journey as he adjusts to answering to a woman in power and his deteriorating health.
Royal marriage is rocked Elizabeth’s new role
The power struggle in the relationship is clear to see as Elizabeth’s role as the Queen takes priority over her marriage, while Prince Philip isn’t used to taking a backseat.
The Crown also hints at infidelity in their relationship as Elizabeth finds a picture of Russian ballerina Galina Ulanova among his possessions, before sending him off on a five-month tour on the Royal yacht.
The tension comes to a head during the premiere for season two when the Royal couple argue on board the HMY Britannia as they strive to find a resolution to their problems, due to divorce not being an option for a monarch.
Trouble in paradise: Royal marriage is rocked Elizabeth’s new role
Elizabeth’s journey to accepting the Crown
The start of the series shows a more wary and shy Elizabeth, compared to the formidable monarch she has grown into.
One of the key moments in the first series is her journey to accepting the Crown, after having to reconfigure all of the relationships in her life.
The series shows the Queen growing in confidence as she finds herself on a path of self-discovery.
The Queen visits Aberfan
Aberfan: After reflecting on her decision, she eventually visited alongside her husband and it is claimed her delayed response remains one of her greatest regrets
Episode three of the third season focuses on the Aberfan disaster which killed 144 people, including 116 childrne, after a colliery spoil tip collapsed over a school in a Welsh village.
The Queen did not immediately visit the disaster site, citing that she did not want to distract away from the tragedy with her presence.
However after reflecting on her decision, she eventually visited alongside her husband and it is claimed her delayed response remains one of her greatest regrets.
The Royal Family documentary
Inside the life: In a bid to give the public a better understanding of the Royal family they let a camera crew into their lives for 18 months
In a bid to give the public a better understanding of the Royal family they let a camera crew into their lives for 18 months.
The Crown depicts the whole thing as a disaster with the family reportedly banning the programme from ever being aired again.
However in actuality, the documentary was well-received and had sky high viewing figures.
Prince Charles valuable time in Wales
Touching: Prince Charles valuable time in Wales
After receiving backlash for the title ‘Prince of Wales’, despite not being a citizen or speaking the language, Prince Charles was sent to Aberystwyth University to learn the language.
Charles, who was 20 at the time, finished the trip with an elaborate investiture to pledge his allegiance to the Queen in Welsh.
However he asked to tweak the speech to add in his own voice, promising the Welsh residents that they wouldn’t be forgotten by England again.
Princess Margaret wows at the White House
She impressed! After being sent on a Royal tour of the U.S. in place of her sister, Margaret was invited to dinner at the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson
After being sent on a Royal tour of the U.S. in place of her sister, Margaret was invited to dinner at the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The whole night appeared a huge success thanks to Margaret’s quick-wit and charm, with President Johnson seemingly lapping it up.
However across the pond Margaret’s success appeared to worry the Queen as she seemed concerned she was being outshone by her sibling.