Jeanette Charles, Queen Elizabeth Actress, Dead at 96

Jeanette Charles, a British actress famous for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in countless films and television series including The Naked Gun, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, and Austin Powers in Goldmember, has died at the age of 96.

Hailing from Essex, Charles ironically had trouble obtaining roles in her early days due to her resemblance to the Queen of England. However, when she began to receive lucrative offers to portray the Queen both in advertisements and in film, she began to embrace her role as an impersonator.

Charles’ most notable on-screen appearances as Queen Elizabeth came in 1985’s National Lampoon’s European Vacation, where she appeared in Ellen Griswold’s dreams; in 1988’s The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, where she was the target of an assassination plot at an Anaheim Angels baseball game — and also threw a screwball; and in 2002’s Austin Powers in Goldmember, where she honored Austin with knighthood.

Ironically, Charles died this past weekend at the age of 96 — the same age as Queen Elizabeth was at the time of her passing in September 2022. As one person on reddit aptly put it, “A true impressionist until the end.”