The Crown’s Princess Diana actress Emma Corrin hands out meals at a food bank

Emma Corrin was seen handing out meals at the Ringcross Food Bank in Islington on Friday, ahead of her debut on The Crown. 

The actress, 24, who plays Princess Diana on the fourth series of the Netflix hit from Sunday, appeared pensive as she helped staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sporting a protective face mask and gloves, the screen star certainly channelled the People’s Princess as she engaged in socially-distanced conversations with residents of the London borough.

Helping out: Emma Corrin was seen handing out meals at the Ringcross Food Bank in Islington on Friday, ahead of her debut on The Crown

 The Royal Tunbridge Wells native wrapped up against the chilly climes in a navy quilted maxi coat, teamed with flared jeans and chunky boots. 

With her shoulder-length tresses scraped away from her face, the brunette proved less is more by going make-up free.

The centre, which was founded in July 2018 and offers fresh produce to the public, has seen a growth in users since the global crisis. 

Thoughtful: The actress, 24, who plays Princess Diana on the fourth series of the Netflix hit from Sunday, appeared pensive as she helped staff during the coronavirus pandemic

Thoughtful: The actress, 24, who plays Princess Diana on the fourth series of the Netflix hit from Sunday, appeared pensive as she helped staff during the coronavirus pandemic

Exciting: Meanwhile, on Sunday, the thespian celebrated 'Crown Day' with a cheery social media post

Exciting: Meanwhile, on Sunday, the thespian celebrated ‘Crown Day’ with a cheery social media post

Blushing bride: Fans were given a first look at Princess Diana's wedding dress from the fourth series before its release

The real deal: Lady Diana Spencer wore a large ruffled wedding dress for her 1981 nuptials to Prince Charles (pictured in the official wedding photographs)

Blushing bride: Fans were given a first look at Princess Diana’s wedding dress from the fourth series before its release (pictured R on her wedding day)

Background: The season portrays Diana's entrance in the Royal Family , as well as her incompatibility with Prince Charles due to their near 13-year age difference (pictured in 1981)

Background: The season portrays Diana’s entrance in the Royal Family , as well as her incompatibility with Prince Charles due to their near 13-year age difference (pictured in 1981)

Impressive: The English rose transforms into Diana alongside Prince Charles actor Josh O'Connor

Impressive: The English rose transforms into Diana alongside Prince Charles actor Josh O’Connor

On the demand for meals in lockdown, centre manager Savvas Panas said in an interview with Islington Faces: ‘We’re only ever a day away from running out of food’, while Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation trustee Lindsey Wylie added: ‘Demand for the food bank is up by over 450%’.

Ringcross Food Bank is opened from 12pm until 4pm each weekday. 

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the thespian celebrated ‘Crown Day’ with a cheery social media post.

The TV star appeared in great spirits as she beamed alongside a billboard poster of herself as the late royal.

Popular: The centre, which was founded in July 2018 and offers fresh produce to the public, has seen a growth in users since the global crisis

Popular: The centre, which was founded in July 2018 and offers fresh produce to the public, has seen a growth in users since the global crisis

Details: Ringcross Food Bank is opened from 12pm until 4pm each weekday

Details: Ringcross Food Bank is opened from 12pm until 4pm each weekday

In the zone: Emma served hot food with appropriate utensils during her time in the truck

Busy: The Misbehaviour star was seen receiving orders from visitors

In the zone: Emma served hot food with appropriate utensils during her time in the truck

Great cause: The much-talked about actress used a new spoon with a tag to serve out the meals

Great cause: The much-talked about actress used a new spoon with a tag to serve out the meals

Emma wrote: ‘sending all my love to my fellow cast and crew, wish we could all be squeezing each other.

‘thank you Peter, Suzanne, Ben, Rob, Nina, Michael, Andy, Jess, Julian, Paul for believing in me.’ (sic)

The season portrays Diana’s entrance in the Royal Family, as well as her incompatibility with Prince Charles due to their near 13-year age difference. 

Checking in: Emma received orders from the chef as she kept busy during her outing

Checking in: Emma received orders from the chef as she kept busy during her outing

Tasty! The food appeared to be provided by hamburger restaurant The Greedy Cow

Tasty! The food appeared to be provided by hamburger restaurant The Greedy Cow

Keeping warm: The Royal Tunbridge Wells native wrapped up against the chilly climes in a navy quilted maxi coat, teamed with flared jeans and chunky boots

In good company: At one point, the Cambridge alum was seen chatting to a friend

Keeping warm: The Royal Tunbridge Wells native wrapped up against the chilly climes in a navy quilted maxi coat, teamed with flared jeans and chunky boots

Earlier this week, Emma revealed she asked scriptwriters to add in graphic bulimia scenes to depict the People’s Princess’ battle with the eating disorder.

Speaking to the Radio Times, the TV star 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?”

Less is more: With her shoulder-length tresses scraped away from her face, the brunette proved less is more by going make-up free

Less is more: With her shoulder-length tresses scraped away from her face, the brunette proved less is more by going make-up free

Beaming: The Pennyworth star appeared in high spirits in the back of the vehicle

Beaming: The Pennyworth star appeared in high spirits in the back of the vehicle

‘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. 

Ready to eat! A crowd gathered by the food truck

Ready to eat! A crowd gathered by the food truck

The Cambridge alum 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.’

WHAT IS BULIMIA NERVOSA?

According to the NHS, bulimia is ‘an eating disorder and mental health condition’

‘People who have bulimia go through periods where they eat a lot of food in a very short amount of time and then make themselves sick’, the website adds,

The eating disorder is most common in young women, and sufferers often have a distorted image of their figures

Symptoms include: 

  • Binge eating
  • Purging
  • Fear of putting on weight
  • Critical about weight and body shape
  • Extreme mood changes

 

Emma and Josh have seen their stars rise since landing the royal roles, with the blonde praising Queen Elizabeth II actress Olivia Colman and Princess Margaret star Helena Bonham Carter for ‘protecting her.’   

The Royal Tunbridge Wells native 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.

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.’

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.

If you have been affected by this story you can call BEAT at 0808 801 0677. 

Candid: Earlier this week, Emma revealed she asked scriptwriters to add in graphic bulimia scenes to depict the People's Princess' battle with the eating disorder

Candid: Earlier this week, Emma revealed she asked scriptwriters to add in graphic bulimia scenes to depict the People’s Princess’ battle with the eating disorder