Emma Corrin doesn’t want a boyfriend because she’d rather “take care” of herself

She said: “I’d rather navigate this on my own. It’s nicer to feel like I’m taking care of me.”

Emma shares a flat with four friends from university and admitted they have been a great source of support and perspective as things change for her.

She told Stella magazine: “It’s nice to come back to people who really know you. It helps to balance out some of the silliness that comes with this job, like having your face on the cover of a magazine.

“It’s great to have people taking the p*** out of you, which they do – constantly. It keeps me grounded.”

The actress plans to put firm boundaries in place for herself so that she isn’t taken advantage of.

She said: “It’s a lot of new experiences in a short amount of time. You have to be very good at setting boundaries for yourself, so you’re not taken advantage of.”

‘The Crown’ director Ben Caron urged Emma to use the upheaval her casting caused to her life in her portrayal of Diana, and she’s admitted it was great advice.

She said: “Ben Caron said to me, ‘Look, your life’s going to change in very much the same way as hers did. If anything happens that makes you feel scared or overwhelmed, if there are photographers following you, just use those feelings [in the part].’

“That was incredibly useful because it has been a bit like that. It can feel very much like a runaway train, but I can control it, I can slow it down by being more careful.

“I get very anxious doing press and events, so it’s important I surround myself with people I get on with and really trust.”