(CNN) — Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench has accused Netflix’s British royal family series The Crown of “crude sensationalism” and called the show “cruelly unfair,” in a letter to British newspaper The Times published this week. Thursday.
Dench asked Netflix to tell its viewers at the beginning of the show that the show is a “fictional drama.” This move, Dench said, would be a sign of respect for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
“No one believes in artistic freedom more than I do, but this cannot go unnoticed. Despite it being publicly stated this week that The Crown has always been a ‘fictional drama,’ the creators of the show have resisted all calls to include a disclaimer at the beginning of every episode,” Dench said.
Judi Dench attends the European Premiere of ‘Hallelujah’ during the 66th BFI London Film Festival at Southbank Center on October 09, 2022 in London, England. (Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for BFI)
“The time has come for Netflix to reconsider… as a mark of respect to a sovereign who served her people so diligently for 70 years,” the actress demanded.
The latest series of The Crown will present “an inaccurate and hurtful account of history”, particularly for viewers abroad, Dench continued in the letter to The Times.
CNN has reached out to Netflix for comment.
