Emma Corrin, the British actor who rose to international fame with their captivating portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown, has become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Since then, Corrin has starred in feature films Lady Chatterley’s Lover and My Policeman, and appeared onstage in a London adaptation of the Virginia Woolf novel Orlando. They will return to television later this year in the upcoming FX limited series Retreat, and just landed the villain role in Deadpool 3, as well as a spot in the cast of Robert Eggers’s upcoming vampire movie Nosferatu. Beyond their acting career, Corrin has also become an advocate for self-discovery and authenticity, openly sharing their experiences with gender identity and navigating the complexities of fame.
The Impact of The Crown and Navigating Celebrity
Corrin's life changed dramatically after being cast as Princess Diana. One of The Crown's directors, Ben Caron, forewarned them about the impending changes, advising them to acknowledge any feelings of invasion of privacy, as that was exactly what Princess Diana would have felt. Corrin experienced a parallel situation of being thrust into the spotlight, with paparazzi following them and intruding on their privacy. This experience highlighted the need to maintain a balance between public and private life.
The actor noted that they have been watching the Harry & Megan documentary and I think they talked about it so well-especially about the nature of the British tabloid press. You [have to] make sure you have a public and private side of your life, because it does change things a lot.
Embracing Authenticity and Gender Identity
Corrin has been open about their journey of self-discovery, particularly regarding their gender identity. They came out as nonbinary on Instagram, publicly changing their pronouns and posting about wearing a binder. While this decision was met with some negativity, it also resonated with many people, especially those navigating their own gender identities.
Corrin noted that for a lot of people, it did help. Especially around conversation of gender and stuff, it does help a lot of people to see someone living as a nonbinary person in the world. I know how much other people’s accounts helped me, that’s my motivation for keeping my social media at the moment.
Read also: "Selling Sunset" star's health habits
They also emphasized that being nonbinary is not a rejection of femininity or masculinity, but rather an embrace of both. They explained that their experience on this earth has been a female one, up until recently, and I still love all those parts of me. It’s interesting that I’m not offered male parts, but I would equally be drawn to that! I suppose it’s also what the industry sees you as, and I think, hopefully, that is shifting.
The Saturn Return and Existential Questions
Corrin is currently experiencing their Saturn return, a period of transition and personal growth that occurs in one's late 20s. This has led them to question various aspects of their life, including their career, relationships, and sense of self.
Corrin explains that I think I’m in the middle of it. I’m not a massive astrology person, but I feel like I am going mad this year. Like, I’m starting to doubt everything - what I’m doing with my work, who I am as a person. Am I a good enough friend? Am I good enough partner? Am I a good enough actor? Am I doing the right thing? And suddenly all these questions have descended, and the ground that I’m standing on is so unstable and it feels like such an existential crisis.
They downloaded an astrology app called The Pattern, which accurately described what I was feeling. Which is mad. It said: ‘This is a huge year. You’ll be questioning everything, there’ll be huge change.’ It literally said word for word what I was feeling.
Deadpool & Wolverine: A New Chapter
Corrin is set to star in the upcoming Marvel film, Deadpool & Wolverine, as the villain Cassandra Nova. This role marks a significant step in their career, catapulting them to a new level of fame.
Read also: Diet and Exercise Secrets
Corrin's initial excitement about playing Cassandra Nova was tempered when director Shawn Levy expressed his desire for Corrin to not play her as a villain. Levy saw in Corrin the ability to play something subtler than an off-the-peg, “pick her out of a lineup” very bad person. What he wanted was unpredictability. He wanted sunny, sunny, sunny, then - he’d snap his fingers - clouds coming in. He shorthanded the switch to: “Change the weather!” Corrin says their references for the part included Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka and Christoph Waltz’s portrayal of a Nazi officer in Inglourious Basterds, because: “He doesn’t need to pretend to be evil. He just is.” So, the Nazi can sit at a table drinking milk and being friendly, and it’s even more chilling.
In preparation for the role, Corrin shaved their head. I found it liberating, I got really into doing it whenever I could - when I was on holiday, even when I was on a boat.” (Once in a hotel in Italy, they blew a fuse while using clippers, causing a power outage. “Half my head was shaved and half wasn’t.”).
Social Media and Authenticity
Corrin has a conflicted relationship with social media. While they recognize its potential for connecting with people and providing support, especially for those navigating gender identity, they also find it anxiety-inducing.
Social media especially feels like a swamp. They worry how they might protect any children they may have from this potential for massive harm. “I hear parents on Radio 4 talking about how there is no filter on what children are watching. The government is doing nothing about it. The way that algorithms work means they are now feeding kids stuff they shouldn’t be seeing. That would terrify me [as a parent].
I want to be authentic on it, but the platform itself is inauthentic. So, I have a very conflicted relationship to it. And I don’t know the answer. The anxiety runs further. Corrin wants to be a “good person”; a good role model. But fears being straitjacketed by one thing, one “self”, on the platform, and therefore constrained; unable to struggle through changes humans naturally experience under such intense scrutiny.
Read also: Emma Kenney's Path to Health
Personal Life and Influences
Corrin values their close relationships with friends and family, who help them stay grounded amidst their rising fame. They share a flat in Hampstead with three friends, including a political journalist, and their cockapoo, Spencer.
Corrin describes their mother as a “child whisperer”. “She’s got this endless imagination and makes up characters and people and stories and worlds. I grew up among those stories.” They were convinced that fairies existed. “My mum being this amazing world-spinner was, like, ‘Leave a note for them in a milk bottle. See if anyone responds.’ And they did. I was obsessed! I started writing every day. One morning, there was a letter: ‘Dear Emma, we’ve had to move. We’re not going to be here any more. Love, the Fairies.’ And I was devastated. My mum was like, ‘I can’t keep this up. It’s too much pressure.’”
Weight Loss Speculation
Emma Corrin’s weight loss has been the subject of much debate since the conclusion of the most recent season of The Crown. However, she has maintained her petite shape, so speculating on her weight loss news is dangerous. Currently, the actress does not consider her weight to be a problem as she has maintained her slender curves over the years. Most likely it was her childhood body type. Emma’s weight has not changed significantly between the before and after photos. To stay fit, she may need to put in a lot of effort and focus on her exercise regimen.