The fourth season of Netflix's The Crown was released in November 2020, and we still can't get over how much English actress Emma Corrin looks like Princess Diana. It feels like we all waited so long to see the People's Princess' debut on the series and it was well worth the wait. Honestly, Emma isn't even a dead ringer for her, but she has nailed her demeanor and mannerisms in a way that makes her look like Princess Di's spitting image. The casting was just so, so good for this role. We can't imagine anyone else taking on Diana.
Emma has managed to exude Diana's whole vibe in every scene and we are loving it. She totally has the whole shy and sweet, but also a bit mischievous and fierce thing down, and there are pictures to prove it. Lots of fans and viewers have noticed that in comparing some photos from the show's set to real photos of Princess Diana, the two are almost impossible to tell apart.
A nod definitely goes out to wardrobe, hair, and makeup teams, of course. We have no idea how they managed to get the fashions and hairstyles so spot on, but clearly a lot of effort went into it, and these people are really, really awesome at their jobs. Seeing is believing, so keep scrolling to check out some photos of Emma Corrin and Princess Diana twinning.
Princess in Pink
Back in 1983, Princess Di donned a hot pink, polka dot midi-dress to the Sunshine Coach Lunch for the Variety Club of Great Britain New Bus Appeal at the Guildhall in London, which she attended with her then-husband Prince Charles. Her dress and hat matched perfectly and the tailoring of her dress was actually a bit ahead of its time.
Pretty in Pink
From the cut of the dress, to the awesomely posh 1980s accessories, wardrobe absolutely nailed Princess Diana's look. Emma's resemblance to her in this scene is striking. The only truly noticeable difference is the fabric of the dress itself. Some of the fabrics that were popular in the '80s aren't even manufactured today, so that makes sense.
Wedding of the Century
There aren't a whole lot of pictures out there of Princess Diana by herself on her wedding day, but the ones we do have access to are super posed, formal shots. Here, Diana's wedding gown can be seen in its full glory. She's smiling big for the camera, but The Crown tells a different story that Emma's facial expression depicts pretty accurately.
Wedding Worries
The amount of detail that went into re-creating one of the most famous wedding gowns in the world is truly astounding. One would have to look incredibly closely to find even the most subtle differences between the copycat and the real thing. And then of course, Emma absolutely has the facial expression down to a T.
Sassy Side-Eye
Diana totally had a signature side-eye look. Sometimes it was a bashful side-eye, other times it was a playful one, and still other times it was a sassy side-eye. Seen here while on an official trip to Australia and New Zealand in 1983, something was clearly entertaining the couple.
Serious Side-Eye
On the other hand, Emma's depiction of the same event comes off a little differently, but her face and body language are still all Diana. The princess was often caught looking bored, annoyed, and even mischievous when she wasn't looking. Of course, what people saw in the media at the time didn't fully portray what was really going on at an event or public appearance.
Sunny for the Swimmers
During yet another official tour of Australia — this one in 1988 — the Princess of Wales presented an award to lifeguards at a competition during the Central Coast Surf Carnival at Terrigal Beach. She admittedly looked slightly embarrassed and a bit coy surrounded by men in tiny swim briefs.
Picture Perfect
The Netflix team absolutely nailed the scene depicting the same event. This picture of Emma and the actors who played the lifeguards is almost a mirror image of the actual photo op Diana posed for. Emma is a bit less red-faced, presumably because she wasn't actually in Australia during the summer. But otherwise, they look so similar.
Prom Queen
Okay, we have to admit, Emma Corrin looks quite a bit like a early 1980s prom queen in this scene, what with the spaghetti strap, polka dot dress, and feathered hair. And of course, the crown is supposed to look just like the real thing and it does come pretty close, but not quite. The smile though … the smile is spot on.
Lady in Red
Diana looked fabulous in the color red and wore it often. Interestingly, when she wore the dress that inspired the look seen in The Crown, she did not don her tiara, which makes the ensemble look entirely less 1980s prom. Diana's look was actually a bit sexy, which wasn't something that was seen from her often at that time. Still, Emma and Diana's hair in this look is a perfect match and so is that beaming smile.
So Young
Way back in the first couple of years of Princess Diana and Prince Charles' marriage, she really did look like such a baby. She was only 20 when she wed Charles in 1981, and in this photo from a gala dinner they attended in 1983, she certainly still looks quite young, even though she was already a mother at that point.
Emma's Youth
Although 25-year-old Emma is older than she plays for much of The Crown's fourth season, her youthful face definitely helps her look a lot more like Princess Diana at the beginning of her life as a senior royal. In the scene from the gala dinner, Emma and the real princess are almost indistinguishable.
New Mother
During Princess Diana and Prince Charles first official tour with their firstborn Prince William in tow, Diana was every bit the doting new mother. She held William quite protectively and looked to be so pleased to have him in her arms. It was really a sweet moment, seeing her publicly as a mother for the first time.
Joy Conveyed
Even though Emma Corrin isn't yet a mother herself, she managed to convey Diana's joy at being with her children expertly. Diana always looked happiest when she was with William and Harry, and some of the biggest and brightest smiles Emma delivered were when she was portraying Diana as a mother.
Quiet Personality
Princess Diana, while somewhat shy and bashful, particularly in her 20s, still had a distinct personality. She came off as quiet, but also like she could be a whole lot of fun when she wanted to. She held a ton of emotion in her eyes, and had a way of making people feel seen. We think Emma managed to portray that particularly well.
Nailed It
Emma really managed to embody Diana's quiet appeal, and a lot of it was in her facial expressions. Just like Diana, she was able to speak volumes with her eyes alone, which is probably what makes her such a dead ringer for the beloved Princess of Wales. It's sad knowing this is Emma's final season of The Crown and actress Elizabeth Debicki will play Diana in season five.
