Calm down dears, it’s not for jumping out of a plane at the Olympics

Winner of Esquire Magazine’s coveted Best Dressed Male award in 2006 and achieving 7th in Elle Magazine’s 15 Sexiest Men poll in 2007, Daniel Craig is known for little else. What’s that? James Bond you say? Never heard of it.

What is it that makes Colin Firth, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench so good at playing our monarchs of old? Is it maturity, is it talent or is it just that they all have a crown fetish? From the Sixteenth Century up to the present day, many actors have tried to play royalty, and few have succeeded. Those that have are celebrated here.

In the run up to what would have been Princess Diana’s 50th birthday, not one, but two films are set to be released with Keira Knightley and Charlize Theron both cast as the lady who captured the nation’s hearts.

No doubt Lord of the Rings geeks worldwide already worship him as a god among men, but Peter Jackson will henceforth be known by a more concrete title – he’s been knighted in New Zealand’s latest New Year’s Honours list.