British actor Emma Corrin spoke at Wallis Annenberg Hall Monday to talk about their acting career and agency during the age of social media.
The 10 a.m. talk was hosted by USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. Since the conversation was closed and required an RSVP, recording its content was prohibited.
Corrin is best known for their portrayal of a young Princess Diana in “The Crown” starting in its November 2020 season. Their performance earned them a 2021 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress and boosted them into stardom.
The talk opened with a video showcasing Corrin’s work which included many highlights from their performance on “The Crown.” The conversation was moderated by Dr. Stacy L. Smith, the founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The personal discussion started by touching on the actor’s beginnings in theater at Cambridge University before it shifted gears to discuss the ways in which Corrin navigates identity and privacy during the digital age.
Corrin touched on the parallels between their personal rise to prominence and Princess Diana’s life in the public eye. They noted the importance of balance when it comes to managing being a public figure. “Routine helps you keep an even pace in your life,” Corrin said.
In addition to earning Emmy nominations for portraying Princess Diana in the Netflix series “The Crown,” Corrin starred in the 2023 Hulu series “A Murder at the End of the World.” They will star in a new version of “Nosferatu” and “Deadpool and Wolverine,” both scheduled to be released in 2024.
“I haven’t watched ‘The Crown’ in its entirety, but I do know that they are very talented,” said Dylan Jansen, a junior communications student.
Jacqueline Duarte, a junior majoring in communications, was eager to see the actor step into brand new roles. “I’m super excited having seen some of their films. It’s so cool to see them in person, especially with the upcoming Deadpool three movie coming out,” Duarte said.
Corrin’s role in the third Deadpool installment marks their entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though they acted in period pieces like “The Crown” and “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” Corrin expressed their desire to not be placed in the box of historical drama acting. Although Corrin was not allowed to speak about their upcoming role, they will be portraying the film’s main villain, stepping away from the romantic and period pieces they previously starred in.
When it comes to maintaining identity as a public figure in the social media era, Corrin emphasized the non-formulaic process of self-agency. “There’s going to be your way,” Corrin said. “And that way will be completely right.”