The Crown posts first look at Imelda Staunton as The Queen in Netflix’s season 5

THE Crown has released the first look image of Imelda Staunton as The Queen in the upcoming series of the hit Netflix show.

She is the third actress to take on the role after Claire Foy in seasons one and two and Olivia Colman in three and four.

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Imelda, 65, will play Her Majesty in the penultimate and final series of The Crown, which follows her turbulent life as head of state.

Filming on season five started this month and the show is likely to air next year, with Dominic West playing her son, Prince Charles, and Elizabeth Debicki playing Princess Diana.

Season five covers the darkest years of her life, with the separation two of her sons from their wives, the great fire at Windsor Castle and the controversy surrounding the death of Princess Diana.

The Sun revealed two years ago how the sought-after role was going to Imelda - who is married to Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, 72, who played butler Mr Carson in the ITV period drama.

"There's pressure from every angle"

Imelda is also resuming her role as Maud Bagshaw in the second Downton movie alongside Dominic, 51, in an as-yet-unknown part.

Claire, 37, was widely acclaimed as the young Princess Elizabeth, who was later crowned Queen, while Olivia Colman, 47, received more mixed reviews as the middle-aged monarch.

But news that Imelda would be playing the Queen in the Crown was widely praised when it was confirmed by Netflix.

Speaking last year about the part she said: "There's pressure from every angle. I'm following two extraordinary actresses, but I'm also following one extraordinary human being, which is the Queen.

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"We know how she looks and how she sounds, and of course I need to be like her as much as I can, but also I have to tell a story."

Jonathan Pryce, 74, will play the queen's husband - the late Prince Philip - in the final two series, but the actors playing other senior royals have yet to be announced.

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The Crown seasons 1-4 are available on Netflix.