Imagine blowing your shot at a career-defining role — all because of a bad fake tan. That’s almost what happened to Vanessa Kirby before she landed The Crown. Long before she was set to join Fantastic Four, she walked into her audition looking less like Princess Margaret and more like she lost a fight with a spray tan machine. Not exactly the regal vibe casting directors were expecting. But somehow, she pulled off the impossible, securing the role and proving that talent beats a tanning disaster any day.
Vanessa Kirby almost lost her role in The Crown because of this fake tan fiasco. Before stepping into the shoes of the regal, chain-smoking Princess Margaret, she faced a critical moment at her audition over a miscalculated self-tanning attempt that turned her ankles into what appeared to be fluorescent football socks. Kirby recounted the hilarious incident on Late Night with Seth Meyers, revealing she slapped on some instant fake tan from her sister’s drawer before heading out for a birthday lunch. A last-minute decision and an apparent beauty shortcut — what could possibly go wrong? Turns out, everything.
She showed up to her final The Crown audition in an attempt at a Margaret-inspired look — pearls, an ill-fitting skirt borrowed from her mom — but completely forgot about her ankles. The moment she walked in, all eyes went straight down. As she shared, “I went to my screen test and I borrowed some of my mom’s ill-fitting skirts and pearls, just to look a little bit more Margaret-y. I changed and I forgot about the ankles. I walked into my screen test, and all four of the directors and Peter Morgan, the creator, went straight to my ankles.” The interest in her lower half lasted for about 10 minutes, and eventually, Peter remarked, “Look, what has happened to your legs?”
It was indeed an industrial fake tan, and it had turned a luminous orange. This misstep nearly cost her the role, but luckily for Vanessa, her acting talent outshined her neon ankles, and she subsequently landed the part just a few days later. Despite the near disaster, she humorously declared, “Honestly, I think he looked at my ankles more than my face, and he said it nearly cost me the job… I haven’t used fake tan since.”
Now, with her Fantastic Four debut looming, it’s hard to imagine The Crown without Vanessa Kirby’s portrayal of Princess Margaret. Of course, Helena Bonham Carter went on to deliver a stellar performance in later seasons, but Kirby set a significant standard. This ordeal serves as a cautionary tale: if you’re gunning for a career-defining role, perhaps it’s best to skip the DIY tanning experiment to avoid a similar mishap.
Fast forward to her recent appearances, and Vanessa Kirby totally nailed it at the Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer launch in Huntsville, Alabama. Sporting an Atelier Versace Spring 2016 dress, she illuminated the event with that signature Sue Storm vibe, boasting a blue-and-black color palette—an ideal fit for her role. Known for keeping her fashion choices understated, Kirby took it up a notch with bold cut-outs and captivating color-blocking. This look was classic Kirby, just with an added punch. With Andrew Mukamal styling her, the fashion game is already on fire.
This is just the beginning of the press tour, and it’s evident that Kirby is ready to transform it into a legendary experience. The excitement builds as we look toward the release of Fantastic Four: First Steps, scheduled for July 25, 2025, while The Crown continues to draw viewers on Netflix.
