The long-awaited fifth season of The Crown dropped on Netflix on Wednesday, and fans feel “very old” after realising who one particular actor is. The penultimate season of Netflix’s flagship royal drama sees the cast get another complete overhaul, as a new bunch of actors are brought in to portray the ageing royals and their associates.
This latest series tackles one of the most turbulent periods for the royal family in modern times, as the 1990s are plagued by scandals, divorces, and a devastating fire. Featuring for the first time in the show is former Prime Minister John Major, who served in the top job from 1990 to 1997.
The then-Conservative Party leader appears in the first episode of the series, as he meets Prince Charles for secret talks to discuss whether Queen Elizabeth II should abdicate the throne – a meeting that the real John Major has insisted never happened. Within hours of the show’s release, fans took to social media to share their disbelief at who has been chosen to portray the former PM.
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Fans were surprised to realise Major is played by none other than English actor Jonny Lee Miller, 49, who many will recognise from iconic Scottish drama Trainspotting. In the classic 1996 film, Miller plays close friend to Ewan McGregor’s Mark Renton, Simon Williamson, better known as Sick Boy.
Reacting to Miller’s appearance, @GolfDadCraig wrote on Twitter: “Sick Boy is playing John Major and I'm now officially very old.”
@SazzyMCH said: “I do not want to live in a world where Jonny Lee Miller is the right age to play John Major.”
@Catheri84744251 added: “He’s amazing but took me by surprise that he’s playing John Major!”
Viewers may also recognise the actor from his stint in US TV series Elementary, in which he plays a modern day Sherlock Holmes. The Crown season five is available to stream on Netflix now.
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