Erin Doherty

Erin Doherty rose to fame after starring in the legendary series The Crown, about the lives of British monarchs. She appeared on television screens as Princess Anne, a role she played beautifully. Below, we share some interesting facts about the charming television star and the story of her success.

Biography

Erin Doherty was born in the small British town of Crawley, located in the county of West Sussex in the south of the country.

She owes her striking appearance and memorable facial features to her Irish roots. Ever since she was at school, she dreamed of becoming an actress, and this dream came true thanks to her talent and her parents. Erin was born to John Thomas Doherty and Rosa Ray. Her father worked as a mortgage consultant, and her mother owned her own beauty salon. However, her parents divorced when she was four years old. It was then that the decision was made to enrol her in a Saturday acting school to take her mind off her troubles.

Teenage years

As a teenager, Erin Doherty was seriously interested in football. She was even considered for the Chelsea women's football team, but she chose art over sport. She didn't particularly like school, but she devoted herself entirely to drama classes.

She graduated from Hazelwick Comprehensive School in 2011 and then enrolled at Guildford School of Art. She studied there for one year. Doherty was then accepted into the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which she successfully completed in 2015. During her studies, she was awarded the prize for best student of the year and also landed a role in Stephen Sondheim's musical Follies.

Partner

Not much is known about the actress's personal life. However, there is information that partner Erin Doherty was her stage friend Sophie Melville. The star of the series ‘The Crown’ is a lesbian and does not hide her preferences. The couple dated for seven years before breaking up. Today, nothing is known about the actress's personal life. She appears in public alone and spends her free time with friends.

Films and TV series starring Erin Doherty

Erin rose to fame after starring in the hit series The Crown. That is why her name is immediately associated with the role of Princess Anne, but this is far from the only film she has appeared in. She has starred in 13 films and TV series, including the sensational project ‘Transition Age,’ which was released in 2025 and instantly garnered many reviews. Erin Doherty is known for her roles in films such as ‘A Thousand Blows,’ ‘The Ascent,’ ‘The Queen's Gambit,’ ‘Chloe,’ and ‘Les Misérables.’

Erin Doherty in the series ‘The Crown’

The role of Princess Anne in ‘The Crown’ was a turning point for Erin. It was this series about the British monarchs that made her famous. Doherty joined the series in the third and fourth seasons and immediately won the hearts of the audience.

As the actress herself admits, she has never seen anyone from the royal family in person and has never even visited Buckingham Palace. It is worth noting that this did not prevent her from successfully playing the role of Anne in The Crown. Doherty studied archival footage of the princess in detail and worked hard on her voice, which was much higher in real life than that of her character.

Erin Doherty in ‘Adolescence’

In 2025, the television series Adolescence premiered, with Erin Doherty in one of the leading roles.

The actress appeared before the public as a child psychologist trying to understand the reasons behind a teenager's murder of her classmate. The actress admits that filming the mini-series was a new experience for her. It was as if she had returned to her childhood and was trying to understand the problems of her teenage years. The Netflix series ‘Teenage’ left no one indifferent — it attracted the largest audience not only in the UK but also worldwide. By the way, Doherty managed to play one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in it.

Erin Doherty in the series Call the Midwife

The actress appeared in the sixth season of Call the Midwife. Her role was small — it was Erin's television debut.

After that, Doherty began receiving invitations to shoot. Following the release of the series, the girl was noticed in two episodes of the popular series ‘Les Misérables.’ And only then was Erin Doherty awarded the role of Princess Anne in ‘The Crown.’

Erin Doherty and her involvement in football

In addition to theatre club in her youth, Erin was into sports. She played for the Crowley Wasps football team and planned to become a professional athlete. But at some point, Erin had to choose between art and sports. She thought about it and decided to focus on her acting career, thinking it would be more successful.

But the girl's passion for sports has not gone away — she still leads an active lifestyle, regularly attends training sessions and periodically participates in charity events. For example, in 2024, Erin Doherty took part in a Soccer Aid match organised by UNICEF. As a result, the England team won 6:3.

Instagram

Frequently asked questions