Helena's Royal Secrets: Meghan's Mistakes & Margaret's Ghosts

The actress has lots to say about her regal new role.

As one of the new recruits on the latest season of The Crown, Helena Bonham Carter (53) has some mighty big shoes to fill. She is picking up the role of Princess Margaret from Vanessa Kirby, who won a slew of awards for her performances in the first two seasons.

But Helena isn’t feeling the pressure, nor is she even remotely fazed by the attention or scrutiny. She says simply she has spent enough years in the spotlight to learn how to cope – and it’s some advice she thinks another royal could do with hearing. The Sweeney Todd star says she refuses to read press about herself and believes Meghan, Duchess of Sussex should perhaps do the same.

“I feel like it’s just all too much,” she shares. “It must be really hard for her, but all I’d say to her is, as soon as you become well known and in the public, it’s a domain you have to accept.”

She adds, “The most important or useful thing that someone told me is [why are] you putting your self-esteem in the hands of strangers?”

Playing a well-known character from history means people have firm ideas of who that person was – meaning it’s hard to please everyone with your performance.