Who will play Princess Diana in The Crown?

After months of speculation over who will be case in the key role of Lady Diana Spencer in The Crown, producers have announced their choice to play future Princess of Wales.

In a tweet on Tuesday evening, Netflix revealed that the role of Diana has gone to “unknown actress” Emma Corrin, The Daily Telegraph reports. The company also said filming of series four will start later this year, the BBC reported.

In a statement, Corrin said that joining the show was “surreal”, as she is an avid watcher of the series.

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“Princess Diana was an icon and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To explore her through [showrunner] Peter Morgan's writing is the most exceptional opportunity and I will strive to do her justice," she said.

Since graduating from Cambridge University, the 23-year-old actress has only had two screen credits. Corrin played Esther Carter in ITV’s Grantchester, and also has a role alongside Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Keira Knightley in the upcoming comedy film Misbehvaiour, which surrounds the feminist protested 1970 Miss World competition.

Nevertheless, Morgan described Corrin as a “brilliant talent” who “immediately captivated” casting directors.

According to The Sun, the casting advert for the role describe the future princess as a “flirt and social exhibitionist on the world stage, desperate and lonely self-harmer at her lowest ebb.. [with] the kind of psychological intensity of Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby”.

Grazia says such a portrayal “might upset the royals”, but notes that Diana's struggles with mental health were recorded in Andrew Morton's controversial book Diana: Her True Story, published in 1992. In a secret interview with the royal biographer, she allegedly said: “I was so depressed, and I was trying to cut my wrists with razor blades.” In 1995, she also revealed she had bulimia in her famous interview with Martin Bashir.

The third series, which stars Olivia Colman as the Queen, will see Prince Charles, played by The Durrells star Josh O'Connor, meeting Camilla Parker-Bowles - Call the Midwife’s Emerald Fennell - and trace their ill-fated first romance.

The fourth series will then include Diana and Prince Charles’ courtship and subsequent marriage in 1981, when the late princess was 20.

Series three of The Crown comes to Netflix later this year.