Dominic West has admitted that he "wrestled" with the prospect of playing Prince Charles in The Crown before he decided to accept the role.
The actor took over the role of The Queen's eldest son - now King Charles III - from Josh O'Connor in the fifth season of the drama, which was released last month, and is currently filming the sixth and final season.
Speaking to Variety, West revealed that once he had been offered the part by creator Peter Morgan, he was in two minds about whether to accept but was eventually convinced to go for it by Helena Bonham Carter, who played Princess Margaret in seasons three and four.
"I said, 'I think you've definitely got the wrong person,'" he told the publication.
"Rather cleverly, he said, 'Only you will know if you can play him or not,' which, of course, isn't true because I've sort of assumed I couldn't play him! I thought I wasn't right for the part, so it took a while.
"Helena Bonham Carter called me, and she said, 'Just do it!' So, I did."
He continued: "I met a few people who told me, in no uncertain terms, 'you shouldn't do it.'
"I wrestled with it for quite a while because I do really admire King Charles and the work he's done, and I didn't want to do anything that might jeopardise that work."
The final season of The Crown is due to be released on Netflix in late 2023.
Neil Wilkes
Follow us on Bluesky or on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
Media Mole's Lowest Ever Sky Offer: Get Sky Essential, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £15 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends March 31, 2025
