Entertainment
Who is Dominic West as he plays Prince Charles in The Crown?-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Let’s dive into his career…
Let’s get to know the latest actor to portray the new King (Picture: Getty/Netflix)
All eyes are about to be on Dominic West, as he takes on the role of King Charles III (then Prince Charles) in season five of The Crown.
The actor joins Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana for the hotly-anticipated fifth season of the drama.
Season five focuses on the now King’s affair with Queen Consort Camilla Parker-Bowles, and the breakdown of his marriage to the Princess of Wales.
Already we’ve seen a great deal of controversy surrounding season five, with public figures, including former Prime Minister Sir John Major, having expressed their distaste for some of the storylines due to unfold, and Buckingham Palace reportedly afraid for King Charles’ reputation, though Olivia Williams – who plays Camilla – insists they ‘shouldn’t fear.’
So, as we gear up for another season of royal drama, let us dive deeper into Dominic’s career and the other projects you might know him from…
Who is Dominic West?
West has enjoyed a lengthy career in TV and film (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Dominic West is a 53-ear-old English actor, director and musician, born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire.
He is the sixth of seven siblings (five girls and two boys) born into a family of Irish descent.
The star of stage and screen had various jobs growing up – including working as a cattle herder in Argentina during his gap year – but graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1995.
He’s been Golden Globe nominated for his role in The Affair and he’s also won a best actor gong at the Baftas for playing serial killer Fred West.
He’s known for roles including The Affair and Appropriate Adult (Picture: Desiree Navarro/Getty Images)
For some more personal nuggets of information, West was awarded an honorary degree for services to the Arts by Sheffield Hallam University in 2010.
In July 2018, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sheffield.
He’s also a supporter of care charity Helen’s Trust, who assisted his mother before she died.
Is he married?
West married his university sweetheart in June 2010 (Picture: Niklas Hallen/AFP/Getty)
West married Catherine FitzGerald in Glin, County Limerick in June 2010, after rekindling their marriage after first dating during their university years.
The couple have four children: Dora, Senan, Francis, and Christabel.
West also shares a daughter with ex-girlfriend Polly Astor.
Martha, who is an actress, was born in 1999.
His daughter, Martha, is also an actress (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for V&A)
What other movies and TV shows has he been in?
It’s been known for The Crown to cast relatively unknown stars and propel them to fame, but this is far from West’s first rodeo.
One of West’s most famous roles was Jimmy McNulty in The Wire, in which he starred from 2002 until 2008.
He also starred opposite Ruth Wilson in The Affair from 2014 until 2019, playing Noah Solloway.
West earned a Bafta for his role opposite Ruth Wilson (Picture: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
You might also recognise him from Appropriate Adult (2011) or for playing Jean Valjean in the 2018 BBC miniseries Les Misérables.
As for films, he’s starred in the likes of Chicago (2002), Punisher: War Zone (2008), John Carter (2012), Tomb Raider (2018), and Colette (2018).
West is currently playing Dr Chris Cox in the Sky One series Brassic.
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Who else has played Charles in The Crown?
He takes over from Josh O’Connor as King Charles (Picture: Des Willie/Netflix)
In the first two seasons of The Crown, child actors Billy Jenkins and Julian Baring played the role of Prince Charles.
Then, in the third and fourth seasons, he was played an adult by Josh O’Connor, who starred opposite Emma Corrin.
The Crown begins streaming on Netflix on November 9.
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