In a candid revelation, the 54-year-old English actor parallels his personal life with his on-screen role as King Charles III on the Netflix drama series.
- Apr 22, 2024
AceShowbiz - "Truth is stranger than fiction," goes the saying, and Dominic West has discovered a surprising connection between his role in "The Crown" and his own experiences. The British actor, who plays King Charles III on the Netflix historical drama, has candidly spoken about how his rumored infidelity influenced his approach to the character.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, West shared that he "had a very acute understanding of what it's like to feel the horror of your name or your photograph coming up in the newspapers." He referred to the widely publicized photos of him with Lily James, his co-star on the 2021 miniseries "The Pursuit of Love", which sparked speculation of an affair.
West admitted that the media scrutiny surrounding his romantic life was "an absurd situation," but it also brought some unexpected comic relief for his family. "It was deeply stressful for my wife and my kids, but there were lighter moments," he said.
West and his wife Catherine FitzGerald have joked about the situation, particularly the persistent media narrative that they were "putting on a show of unity." He said, "Whenever we went out together, the papers would always say we were 'putting on a show of unity.' And so, when we go out, we do sort of say, 'Shall we go and have a show of unity up in London?' "
West also discussed his affinity for playing upperclass characters, but acknowledged that he may be better suited to working-class roles. "I think those are my best roles," he said. "My wife, who is genuinely upperclass, always tells me, 'You're much better in the working-class parts, you're not very good as upper class, you're not convincing at all.' "
Ultimately, West's personal experiences and the character he portrays on "The Crown" have created an unusual parallel, highlighting the often-blurry line between truth and fiction.
