Helena Bonham Carter Shares the True Story Behind Princess Margaret's Overdose
In its final episode, The Crown's third season shows Princess Margaret at her lowest point. With her marriage in shambles and heading toward divorce, she takes too many Nitrazepam pills, a type of sedative.
The show doesn't outright call her overdose a suicide attempt—when the Queen asks Princess Margaret "Did you mean it?" she responds,"I don't know, possibly"—and neither did those close to the Queen's sister in real life.
"Friends have always denied that it was an attempt at suicide," reported The Telegraph in 2002. "She would later explain: 'I was so exhausted because of everything that all I wanted to do was sleep ... and I did, right through to the following afternoon.'"
According to biographer Theo Aronson, in 1974, Margaret suffered a mental breakdown. Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Margaret in seasons three and four of the Netflix series, has said that she believes Margaret suffered from depression.
"She had a total breakdown when her marriage went bust, and I think she took the sleeping pills," the actress told The Hollywood Reporter. "I don't think she particularly was thinking straight. We had a longer version to the scene and that was in, but a lot was cut. What she wanted was the pain to stop because she was in such a dark place. It is shocking to know that, but I think it's a real admission of vulnerability. People who are that conspicuous are as vulnerable as anybody."
In the aftermath of Margaret's overdose, The Crown shows the Queen comforting her younger sister, a scene which Bonham Carter found "so moving."
"The Queen found fit to say to her, 'You are the most important person in my life.' I found it so moving when Olivia delivered that. That's all Margaret needed to hear," the actress said.
"She felt totally rejected by her husband. She felt useless, obsolete, as if she had no role. To be told by her sister, actually you, not her husband or her mother, are the most important person—that's what she needs to carry on."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 24-hour treatment referral hotline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or visit FindTreatment.samhsa.gov for free and confidential help. In the case of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
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