Elizabeth Debicki finds ‘MaXXXine’ role refreshing after Princess Diana role in ‘The Crown’

The Golden Globe winner discussed her transition from royalty to horror in Ti West’s latest project.

Elizabeth Debicki, renowned for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Netflix’s acclaimed series The Crown, has shifted gears dramatically with her latest role in MaXXXine. 

Speaking to Forbes, the actress described the experience as a "medicinal palate cleanser" following her intense portrayal of the late princess.

"I shot this quite soon after wrapping on The Crown and I found it to be a very medicinal palate cleanser," Debicki revealed.

In MaXXXine, the final installment of Ti West’s X horror trilogy now showing in cinemas, Debicki plays Elizabeth Bender, a director pivotal in launching the career of Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) in The Puritan II. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the film intertwines Minx’s rise with the looming threat of the Night Stalker.

Reflecting on her unexpected role, Debicki expressed, "I have no idea why this came my way, except that when I read the script it felt symbiotic and I felt really connected to the role."

The actress, who previously won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Princess Diana, emphasized the transformative nature of her profession: "It’s a really interesting ride being an actor. It’s not really my job to see myself in certain ways, it’s my job to become the thing that people need me to become."

Debicki also noted parallels between her character and West’s journey as a filmmaker, underscoring the collaborative essence of MaXXXine and its predecessors, X and Pearl (both 2022).