Wearing a figure-hugging dress to her sister’s wedding propelled Pippa Middleton into the international spotlight.
Now, more than 12 years later, an unknown actress is on the path to fame after being cast as “Her Royal Beauty” in The Crown.
Matilda Broadbridge, 19, beat thousands of other young hopefuls to play the younger sister of the Princess of Wales in the next series of the hit Netflix drama.
She revealed her excitement to her Instagram followers last week, posting a photo of herself in front of her trailer on set.
Next to it she wrote: “A very short but very pleasant trip to the crown lands. I am very excited to announce that I will be appearing as Pippa Middleton in The Crown Netflix. I am so grateful to have been a part of this production and for this experience, keep your eyes peeled.
Unknown actress Matilda Broadbridge has been tapped to play The Crown’s Pippa Middleton in the upcoming series of the Netflix drama
Ms Broadbridge was chosen after submitting an audition tape she had made herself. She is expected to appear in scenes where Kate tells her family about meeting the future king.
Pippa with her sister Kate at the launch of the book Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Wearing a figure-hugging dress (photo) at her sister’s wedding propelled Pippa Middleton to the international spotlight.
Pippa wore a stunning white dress with a low-cut neckline to her sister’s wedding in 2011.
She revealed her excitement to her Instagram followers last week, posting a photo of herself in front of her trailer on set.
Next to it she wrote: “A very short but very pleasant trip to the crown lands. I am very excited to announce that I will be appearing as Pippa Middleton in The Crown Netflix. I am so grateful to have been a part of this production and for this experience, keep your eyes peeled.
Ms Broadbridge – who was educated at the £16,000-a-year Royal High School in her home town of Bath – joins Meg Bellamy, who will play Kate, and Ed McVey as Prince William.
Kate Middleton and Prince William kiss on the balcony after their 2011 wedding
Introducing Her Royal Highness: The Crown has cast actress Meg Bellamy (left) as Kate Middleton (right in 2008) for the sixth series of the drama.
Her prince is waiting: Meg, who was headmistress of St Crispin’s School where she studied drama, will star alongside Ed McVey (left), who will play her on-screen husband Prince William (photo on the right in 2008).
With no screen credits to her name, Ms Broadbridge was cast after submitting an audition tape she had made herself. She is expected to appear in scenes where Kate tells her family about meeting the future king. However, she won’t be able to wear that stunning bridesmaid dress, as the drama only covers the future Welshmen’s first year together at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Speaking about her dream of becoming an actress, Ms Broadbridge said she had been dancing, singing and acting since the age of three. But she added: “It wasn’t until I was about 13 or 14 that I realized how much I loved acting and that it was something I wanted to pursue.”
She attended the National Youth Theater before signing with an agency that lists her preferred accent as “heightened received pronunciation.”
The first four episodes of the sixth and final season of The Crown will air from November 16. Ms Broadbridge will feature in the final six episodes, which follow on December 14.
