The Crown’s Erin Doherty revealed on Saturday that she could have been a professional footballer instead of an actress.
Speaking on Dermot O’Leary’s breakfast show, the 30-year-old actress – who played Princess Anne in seasons three and four of The Crown – revealed that she played for a team called the Crawley Wasps when she was young .
Erin said she was scouted for Chelsea, but the line came when her dad drove her from the soccer games to drama school and she had to choose between them and acting.
Alternative career: Erin Doherty revealed on Dermot O’Leary’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Saturday morning that she could have been a footballer instead of an actress
She said, “My dad would drive me back and forth from soccer games to this stage school thing I did on the weekend, he said, ‘Erin has to be one…’ so I made up my mind.”
Erin said she is “very happy” it is part of her life and proud that the English lionesses are doing so well.
The stage and screen star added: “It’s a bit surreal to think that maybe I could have been a part of that.”
The actress doesn’t belong to any football team these days, but revealed that she still plays with herself in the garden.
She admitted she tried to join an amateur team at Clapham Common, but said: “These amateur teams take it very seriously. I just couldn’t keep up with the stakes so I had to fold.”
Star potential: The 30-year-old actress (pictured leaving the studio) revealed she played for a team called the Crawley Wasps when she was young before being spotted at Chelsea
Decision: She revealed that she was deciding between acting school or soccer since her dad drove her between activities every weekend and couldn’t do both (Erin suggested he sign).
The star later left the radio studio looking casual in a blue bomber jacket and fleece teamed with jeans.
Wearing no makeup, Erin embraced her natural beauty and swept her dark brown locks into a high ponytail.
She was also seen signing an autograph for a fan outside the studio as she left the studio.
Big deal: Erin said she was “really excited” it was a part of her life and that she was proud the Lionesses of England were doing so well (pictured with a fan outside the studio)
It comes after the actress, who is happily in a relationship with co-star Sophie Melville, revealed in November that it was “courageous” to even question the idea that going public with her boyfriend would interfere with her successful career would endanger.
The actress shared her own experience as she reflected on how difficult it must have been for women in the royal family to express their sexuality.
Erin said, “I felt a lot of pressure to hold back my sexuality.”
Difficult: Erin previously admitted it was “courageous” to question the idea that being in public with friend Sophie Melville would jeopardize her successful career (pictured together)
Speaking to The Telegraph, Erin explained how the role of Princess Royal made her reluctant to speak openly about her sexuality for fear of her future acting career, and admitted it was disheartening that the thought had even crossed her mind.
She said: “I’m not going to lie, I’m not naming names, but when I got The Crown I felt a lot of pressure to keep my sexuality under control.
“There was a time when I thought, can I be open about this to have a successful career? And the fact that that question still crossed my mind, and maybe crossed other people’s minds, is so pathetic.”
Thoughts: The actress, who starred as Princess Anne in The Crown (pictured), spoke of her own experiences as she reflected on how difficult it must have been for women in the royal family to express their sexuality
She continued: “I’m really aware of all the people who have lived in shame or denial or just hiding for years — actors, actresses definitely stop coming out to pursue a career — and I have.” I just want a part of doing something about it.”
Erin and Sophie – who have starred in dramas such as The Mising and Call The Midwife – met in 2017 when they starred in The Divide, a play by Alan Ayckbourn.
However, Erin only posted one photo of the couple together on her Instagram in 2019.
Open: “I won’t lie, I won’t name names, but when I got The Crown, I felt a lot of pressure to keep my sexuality under control” (pictured at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2020)
She then went on to talk about how gay actors may have been reluctant to play romantic leads in films and productions in the past, with Erin – who has only played straight roles so far – stating that it was “shocking” that anyone would say, “Oh, but you’re gay, so you can’t play straight.”
After receiving criticism for her portrayal of the late Queen’s only daughter, Erin put herself in Anne’s shoes and spoke about how Anne would have been “aware” of scrutiny if she had been so open about her love life. like their male colleagues.
She also noted that Anne was “constantly aware of comments about her physicality” and that she then used this as a “catalyst” for her strong will and unpretentious nature, adding that the princess was likely to comment: “I give not because” to criticism.
Stoer: “I thought to myself, can I openly address this to be successful professionally?” (pictured with Sophie in 2019 at the London Coliseum)
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
