Honestly, it’s kinda impossible to talk about British acting royalty without Claire Foy’s name coming up in the first five seconds. Most people know her as the stoic, younger version of Elizabeth II in The Crown, but if that’s the only place you’ve seen her, you’re basically missing out on one of the most versatile careers in modern cinema. She has this weird, incredible ability to look totally different in every role just by changing the way she holds her jaw or stares at the camera.
She isn't just "the girl who played the Queen." Not even close.
From psychological thrillers shot on a phone to period dramas where she’s basically a political shark in a corset, Claire Foy movies and shows have a range that most actors would kill for.
The Breakthrough: Before the Tiara
Before Netflix spent millions on her wardrobe, Foy was already putting in the work. You might remember her from Little Dorrit back in 2008. She played Amy Dorrit, and she had these massive, "saucer-like" eyes that made you feel every bit of her character's struggle. It was a classic Dickens adaptation, but Foy made it feel less like a dusty museum piece and more like a real person trying to survive.
Then came Wolf Hall.
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If you haven't seen her as Anne Boleyn, go watch it now. Seriously. Most people play Anne as either a victim or a total villain, but Foy played her as a high-stakes gambler. She was sharp, dangerous, and incredibly smart. It was the role that basically told the industry, "Hey, this woman can carry a massive production."
- Little Dorrit (2008): The humble beginning.
- Upstairs Downstairs (2010): She played Lady Persephone, who was—let's be real—a bit of a nightmare, but Foy made her fascinating.
- The Promise (2011): A gritty, dual-timeline story about Israel and Palestine.
The Crown and the "Stillness" Method
We have to talk about The Crown. Peter Morgan, the creator, famously said she got the part because she "dared to be still." While everyone else was trying to act like a Queen, Foy just sat there and let the emotions flicker under the surface.
She won the Emmy. She won the Golden Globe. And then, she walked away.
That’s the thing about her—she doesn't stick around just for the paycheck. She did two seasons, became the most famous actress on the planet for a minute, and then pivoted immediately to roles that were the exact opposite of a monarch.
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Why the 2018 Pivot Matters
In 2018, she went on an absolute tear. She did Unsane, a horror movie Steven Soderbergh filmed entirely on an iPhone. Think about that: going from a $100 million Netflix budget to a guy with a cell phone. She played a woman trapped in a mental institution who might (or might not) be crazy. It was raw, messy, and totally un-royal.
That same year, she played Janet Armstrong in First Man. While Ryan Gosling was doing the "stoic astronaut" thing, Foy was the emotional engine of the movie. She didn't just play "the wife"—she played the person holding the entire family together while her husband was literally trying to leave the planet.
Recent Hits and The 2026 Landscape
Fast forward to now. If you're looking at Claire Foy movies and shows today, she’s moved into what I call her "heavy-hitter" phase.
In Women Talking (2022), she was Salome, a woman vibrating with pure, righteous rage. It was a performance that felt like a pressure cooker about to explode. Then there was All of Us Strangers (2023), where she played a ghost of a mother. It was heartbreaking. It was subtle. It was classic Foy.
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What’s New in 2026?
If you're looking for her latest work, H is for Hawk is the big one. It’s based on Helen Macdonald's memoir. Basically, her father dies (played by Brendan Gleeson), and she decides to train a goshawk to deal with the grief.
It’s a weird premise on paper, but in the film, it’s intense. Foy spent months learning actual falconry. She's working with a bird that could literally take her eye out, and you see that tension on screen. It’s a "career-best" type of performance that’s already getting Oscar buzz for the next cycle.
Practical Guide: Where to Start
If you're new to her filmography, don't just binge The Crown and stop.
- For the drama lovers: A Very British Scandal. She plays the Duchess of Argyll during a famously messy divorce. She’s icy, stylish, and incredibly complicated.
- For the thrill-seekers: The Girl in the Spider’s Web. She took over the Lisbeth Salander role. It's a total departure—black leather, tattoos, and motorcycle chases.
- For the cinephiles: The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. She stars opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s whimsical and sad and beautiful.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to keep up with Claire Foy's career, keep an eye on The Magic Faraway Tree, which is slated for later in 2026. It’s an Enid Blyton adaptation, which sounds like it might be for kids, but with Foy involved, it’s bound to have some real emotional depth.
Also, look out for Savage House, a black comedy where she stars alongside Richard E. Grant.
Pro-tip: Most of her best early work is buried on BBC iPlayer or BritBox. If you've only seen her big Hollywood stuff, it’s worth digging into the UK archives for White Heat or The Night Watch. You'll see the foundations of the actor she became.