Peter Morgan on ‘The Sopranos’ Influences, Writing ‘The Crown’ & Tony Blair Meeting

Peter Morgan is a renowned playwright, screenwriter, and TV series creator. The Guardian once described him as “Britain’s leading contemporary screen dramatist.” They praised his unique approach, stating, “There is no one who works quite like him. Actually, there might be nobody who has worked quite like him in British drama since Shakespeare.” Morgan’s specialty is transforming the lives of public figures into engaging dramas that verge on documentary, yet maintain their dramatic flair.

Morgan has an impressive portfolio of works. His theatrical productions include Frost/Nixon, which graced West End in 2006 and Broadway in 2007; The Audience in West End in 2013 and Broadway in 2015; and Patriots, currently set for West End in 2023 and Broadway in 2024. On the screen, he penned TV films like 2003’s The Deal, 2006’s Longford, and 2010’s The Special Relationship. His theatrical films include 2006’s The Queen and The Last King of Scotland, 2008’s Frost/Nixon, 2009’s The Damned United, 2010’s Hereafter, and 2013’s Rush.

However, Morgan is perhaps most famously known for creating, show-running, and writing or co-writing all 60 episodes of the six-season Netflix drama series The Crown. Airing from 2016 to 2024, The Crown has been hailed by The Los Angeles Times as “perhaps the final offering of TV’s Golden Age” and by The New York Times as “one of the most watched, argued over and influential creations in recent television history.” For its past five seasons, the show garnered 10 Emmys, with the sixth and final season now up for 18 Emmys, including best drama series and best writing for a drama series.

Morgan has also achieved significant personal successes. He is the recipient of five BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Emmy Awards. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards, one Tony Award, and one Olivier Award. In 2015, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for “services to drama,” an honor bestowed upon him by then-Prince Charles. In 2017, he received a British Film Institute Fellowship.

In a recent episode, the 61-year-old reflected on his journey. Growing up as the child of immigrants and losing his father at just nine years old significantly shaped him. His entry into writing was accidental, and he began using historical people and events as inspirations for fictional exchanges among powerful figures, including presidents, prime ministers, and a queen. Morgan also shared his hopes for the legacy of The Crown, among many other insights.

Source: The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times