The actor and actress set to play President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie in The Crown have been revealed – Michael C. Hall and Jodi Balfour. The on-screen couple will appear in one episode of the second series of the Netflix drama, according to Deadline and Mail Online. Production has already started filming and Michael, best known for starring in Dexter, and Jodi, of Bomb Girls, are currently on set in the UK.
The pair will join the show's leading lady Claire Foy, who plays the Queen, and Matt Smith, who plays Prince Philip. The episode concerns a visit the Kennedys made to London in June 1961. The visit was considered difficult because divorcees were not invited to state dinners at Buckingham Palace; Jackie had wanted her sister Lee Radziwill, who had a second husband, to attend. The episode will show that the Queen was furious with Jackie, but reluctantly agreed. The two women met again nine months later, when it was just the two of them. Their visit was less frosty, particularly after Jackie confided to the Queen that she found being on public view "exhausting".
Michael C. Hall and Jodi Balfour will play the Kennedys in The Crown
Matt Smith reveals he was held at gunpoint while filming The Crown
The new casting announcement comes shortly after it was revealed that Matthew Goode will play Princess Margaret's husband Lord Snowdon in the second series. Matthew is best known for playing Lady Mary's lover in Downton Abbey.
The Netflix drama has been crowned victorious at various awards ceremonies this year. At the Golden Globes last month, the show won Best Television Series – Drama while protagonist Claire went home with Best Actress – Television Series Drama. The Wolf Hall star hailed the "extraordinary" monarch in her speech, saying: "She has been at the centre of the world for 63 years. I think the world could do with a few more women at the centre of it, if you ask me."
Matt Smith and Claire Foy will return as Prince Philip and the Queen
She added: "When you play a real life person, it's tricky. You rely very much on the people around you. So I'm going to dedicate this to all those people around me." Claire, 32, was also awarded Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.