'The Crown' Finally Casts Its Princess Diana

Princess Diana red and purple dress in Thailand 1988
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'The Crown' has found its Princess Diana.

The Crown has found its Princess Diana.

On Tuesday, the Netflix series announced that actress Emma Corrin will play Lady Diana Spencer in season four, before she becomes Princess of Wales. Filming will begin later this year.

Corrin released a statement about landing the big role, saying she would strive to do the beloved late royal justice. 

"I have been glued to the show and to think I'm now joining this incredibly talented acting family is surreal," the statement reads. "Princess Diana was an icon and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To explore her through Peter Morgan’s writing is the most exceptional opportunity and I will strive to do her justice!"

Corrin is a relative newcomer; her credits include an episode of TV series Grantchester and an upcoming film called Misbehavior -- about a group of women who hatch a plan to disrupt the 1970 Miss World beauty competition in London -- in which she plays Miss South Africa.

Meanwhile, the critically acclaimed The Crown, which revolves around the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, has yet to announce its season three premiere date. Olivia Colman will play Queen Elizabeth II, taking over for Claire Foy, who played a younger version of the royal during the first two seasons of the show and won an Emmy for the role. 

Last October, the Netflix series announced it had cast its Camilla Shand, who would eventually become Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall -- actress Emerald Fennell. Camilla married Queen Elizabeth's son, Prince Charles, in 2005, after they had a well-known affair while he was still married to Princess Diana. 

"I'm absolutely over the moon, and completely terrified, to be joining so many hugely talented people on The Crown," Fennell in a statement. "I absolutely love Camilla and am very grateful that my teenage years have well prepared me for playing a chain-smoking serial snogger with a pudding bowl haircut."

For more on The Crown season three, which will span the next decade of the monarchy following the series' season two ending in 1964, watch the video below:

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