Helen as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Queen' (Photo: IMDb)
Cover Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Queen' (Photo: IMDb)
The longest serving British monarch is something of a pop culture icon too, having been portrayed numerous times on screen. Here are five that left an indelible impression.

The Queen (2006)

Directed by Stephen Frears with a screenplay by Peter Morgan (who famously created the Netflix series, The Crown), the movie takes place in the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death and deals with Buckingham Palace's reluctance to publicly mourn her passing. Helen Mirren gave the performance of her life as the dutiful but stoic monarch, winning her Best Actress awards at the Oscars, Baftas and Golden Globes. An awards darling, the movie was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the 79th Academy Awards.

See also: Queen Elizabeth II at The Parliament Building and More Historic Visits to Malaysia

A Royal Night Out (2015)

Described by critics as "charming" and "delightful", it's a fictional take on royal princesses Elizabeth (the future queen) and Margaret's escapades on V.E Day, when the King allows them go out and join in the celebration. Devised as a romantic comedy with an endearing performance by Sarah Gadon as Elizabeth who is imagined having a rather adventurous (and rather unbelievable) night with an airman after she gets separated from Margaret.

The Crown (2016-present)

This expansive dramatisation of the royal family is a beloved Netflix series globally that has accumulated a total of 63 Emmy nominations in its four-season run. The monarch has been portrayed by two different actresses so far, Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, both of whom won an Emmy for their performances. The upcoming fifth season, slated to premiere in November 2022, will star Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II. 

London Olympics 2012 Opening Ceremony

The queen made a surprise appearance as a herself in this pre-recorded clip for London 2012 Olympic Games' opening ceremony that saw her being escorted to the Olympic Stadium by another British icon, James Bond (played by Daniel Craig). 

The Queen and Paddington Bear (2022)

Shot to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, this humorous video shows the monarch having a spot of tea with Paddington Bear, where they both extol the joy of a good ol' marmalade sandwich. Considering the current circumstance, the ending is now rather more poignant. 

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