United Kingdom, May 25 -- Imelda Staunton felt "absolutely distraught" when Queen Elizabeth passed away.

The 69-year-old actress played the late monarch - who died in September 2022, aged 96 - on 'The Crown', and Imelda has admitted to feeling heartbroken after the Queen passed away.

Speaking to The Independent, the actress explained: "I've got no claim to her at all, but I felt absolutely distraught.

"Dame Helen Mirren [who played Elizabeth in 'The Queen'] emailed me to say, 'I know how you're feeling.' So yes, it was very strange."

Imelda admitted to feeling inspired by the late monarch, who reigned for 70 years.

She said: "[The Queen] had this great ability to block everything out.

"I watched reams of old footage of her, and when...