“It is definitely a magic element of the show,” declares Tobias Menzies about how Netflix’s period drama “The Crown” portrays the British royal family in revealing and vulnerable moments that provide insight into these very public personalities.

“I felt instinctively that if it was too much a work of mimicry, that would be probably quite irritating to watch maybe for ten hours,” he jokes. “It was about getting a balance of getting close enough to them so that you feel like you are having breakfast with Phillip and the Queen.” Watch our exclusive video interview with Menzies above.

See Josh O’Connor Interview: ‘The Crown’

After two seasons in which “The Crown” focused on the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign as monarch, the series returned late last year with a new cast in the spotlight. Oscar winner Olivia Colman replaced Emmy winner Claire Foy as the Queen,...