Claire Foy pays tribute to Queen's 'dignity and grace' and the 'honor' it was to play her in 'The Crown'

Actor Claire Foy pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in the most genuine, heartfelt way - acknowledging the incredible personal and public life of the late monarch.

• The Crown actor Claire Foy played Queen Elizabeth II in the first two seasons of the hit Netflix show.
• Speaking at the Toronto Film Festival, the actor paid tribute to the late Queen.
• In other royal news, Where is the Queen Lying-in-State and what does Lying-in-State mean?

Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 on Thursday, September 8, just hours after Buckingham Palace had announced she was being 'medically supervised' by royal doctors at Balmoral Castle. 

Speaking to BBC News reporter Lizo Mzimba, at the Toronto Film Festival, Claire said, "I think that she was an incredible monarch. She united people and she was a massive symbol of continuity and dignity and grace."

"My main feeling is just thinking about her as a mother and a grandmother and a great-grandmother, really," she added. "And I'm very honored to have been a teeny tiny, small part of her story."

Claire is one of the lucky few to have played Queen Elizabeth II; finding herself. in the ranks of British acting royalty including Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Olivia Coleman, and Imelda Staunton.

The latter two actors took on the mantle in Netflix's The Crown - taking over where Claire left off as young Queen Elizabeth II. Though many speculate about how accurate The Crown really is, the fictionalized series has become a firm favorite.

The Crown season 5 will be the first opportunity to see Imelda taking on the role of Queen Elizabeth II. The series doesn't begin until November 2022, and filming on the next installment has already started. However, following Her Majesty's death, a Netflix source told Variety, “As a mark of respect, filming on ‘The Crown’ was suspended today." They added, "Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.”