John Lithgow

Everybody quotes Churchill.

There are pubs named for Churchill.

And I was completely astonished when I was asked to do it by Peter Morgan, the writer, and Stephen Daldry, the lead director.

I wasn't about to say no.

These were very impressive people, and if they wanted me, I would.

I was amazed that they wanted me, but I was flattered and extremely excited to play the part.

But, you know, I was a yank.

When I sat down with Stephen Daldry for breakfast in a diner, after I'd said yes, I said, Stephen, why did you cast me?

And he said, well, Churchill's mother was an American.

And, you know, she was.

And that was the first little gesture of liberation.

The other thing that happened was I arrived in England and all the English actors were so enthusiastic about the idea.

I mean, I've done a lot of acting in England, playing English roles, even listening to this clip that you've just played.

I can hear my Americanism, but there's a certain excitement to mingling an American energy with an English character.

I mean, I'm speaking as objectively as I can about this.

I've read this in one or two reviews.

Sometimes it helps sort of enliven...

The drama or the comedy, this was particularly true of Churchill.

And they somehow felt they wanted to shake things up, as they did in every way on The Crown.

The Crown is such a surprising show.