The Crown: Gillian Anderson CONFIRMED to play Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in season four of the Netflix drama
Gillian Anderson has been confirmed to play Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of The Crown, Netflix revealed on Saturday.
The actress, 51, will portray the former-Prime Minister during her 11-year tenure, which saw her in office from 1979 to 1990.
Joining the show’s stellar cast, which includes Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian won’t appear in the show until season four, which is set to air in 2020.
The Crown: Gillian Anderson CONFIRMED to play Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in season four of the Netflix drama, they announced on Saturday
Speaking in a statement about the role on Twitter, Gillian gushed: ‘I am so excited to be joining the cast and crew of The Crown and to have the opportunity to portray such a complicated and controversial woman.
‘Thatcher was undoubtedly formidable but I am relishing exploring beneath the surface and, dare I say, falling in love with the icon who, whether loved or despised, defined an era.’
Thatcher’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth II [Colman] was known to be frayed during her term in office.
Season four is likely to feature political matters such South Africa’s Apartheid legislation, the Falklands War and 1984/5 miners’ strike.
Keen: Speaking in a statement about the role on Twitter, Gillian gushed that ‘Thatcher was undoubtedly formidable but I am relishing exploring beneath the surface’
Gillian, who grew up in both the UK and the US, is known for her diverse career, notably for playing Special Agent Dana Scully in the iconic series The X Files.
Her role alongside David Duchovny in the sci-fi series ran from its inception in 1993 until last year after the show returned from cancellation for rebooted 10th and 11th seasons in 2016 and 2018.
Gillian also reprised her role as Scully for both of The X Files movies in 1998 and 2008, and has has also portrayed an array of other characters across TV and film.
Coming soon: Gillian won’t appear in the show until season four, which is set to air in 2020
New role: The actress will portray the former-Prime Minister during her 11-year tenure, which saw her in office from 1979 to 1990
She starred in Hannibal as therapist Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, as DSU Stella Gibson in The Fall, Anna Pavlovna Scherer in War & Peace and in American Gods as Media.
Gillian is also currently featuring in Netflix series Sex Education as therapist Jean Milburn, and mother to main character Otis.
The actress’ films have included The Last King Of Scotland, Johnny English Reborn and How To Lose Friends And Alienate People.
Latest role: Anderson is also currently featuring in Sex Education – another Netflix series – as therapist Jean Milburn, and mother to main character Otis
The Iron Lady: In 2011, Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Oscar for the titular role as Thatcher, and Olivia starred as Thatcher’s daughter Carol
Olivia will take on the role of Queen Elizabeth II for the third and fourth series of the Netflix drama, taking over the role from Claire Foy.
Meanwhile, Tobias Menzies is set to portray Prince Phillip, following in the footsteps of Matt Smith, as the third season follows the royals from 1964 to 1977.
The new series and will depict historic moments such as the 1966 Aberfan disaster, and the first miner strikes between 1972 and 1974.
A key story that will centre around Prince Phillip will be the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon Landing, which is viewed by many as one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th Century.
Exciting: The Oscar-winning actress will take on the role of Queen Elizabeth II for the third and fourth series of the Netflix drama, taking over the role from Claire Foy
Predecessors: Claire (centre) and Matt Smith (left) portrayed Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in the first and second season, set between the years 1947 and 1964
Embittered: Helena Bonham Carter will play Princess Margaret. Fans will get to see the turbulent journey in Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s (Ben Daniels) marriage
Royals: Tobias Menzies is set to portray Prince Phillip, following in the footsteps of Matt, as the third season follows the royals from 1964 to 1977
The Durrells’ Josh O’Connor will take over the role of Prince Charles as he grows into a young man, and will set the stage for his later marriage to Princess Diana through his early romance with Camilla Parker-Bowles (to be played by Emerald Fennell.)
Helena Bonham Carter will play Princess Margaret. Fans will get to see the turbulent journey in Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s marriage, eventually leading to their split in 1978 – a controversy among the royal family at the time.
Margaret’s marriage to Lord Snowdon (to be played by Ben Daniels) was seen by fans in the show’s second series, as she fell in love with the dashing aristocrat and decided to marry him in what proved a surprise to some.
Jason Watkins will also take over the role of Prime Minister Harold Wilson, and will see him work closely with Queen Elizabeth II to abolish capital punishment and stop discrimination against women and minorities.
Diverse: Anderson – who grew up in both the UK and the US – is known for her wide career, notably for playing Special Agent Dana Scully in The X Files
Difficult issues: Season four is likely to feature political matters such South Africa’s Apartheid legislation, the Falklands War and 1984/5 miners’ strike
Multi-faceted: Anderson starred as [L-R] Anna Pavlovna Scherer in War & Peace and in American Gods as Media, though she left the role following the first season
Gillian isn’t the only person to portray the first ever female Prime Minister, as Steve Nallon voiced Thatcher in satirical series Spitting Image in the 1980s and 1990s.
Book-turned-play-turned-TV special Anyone For Denis? saw Angela Thorne in the role. Maureen Lipman, Jennifer Saunders and Lesley Manville have also played her.
Thatcher was portrayed by Patricia Hodge in The Falklands Play in 2002, by Andrea Riseborough in the TV film The Long Walk To Finchley in 2008.
Resemblance? Gillian isn’t the only person to portray the first ever female Prime Minister, as Steve Nallon voiced Thatcher in satirical series Spitting Image in the 1980s and 1990s
In popular culture: Thatcher was portrayed by Andrea Riseborough [R] in the TV film The Long Walk To Finchley in 2008, and Meryl Streep played her in 2011’s The Iron Lady
The character was also featured in two feature films centred on her life: 2009’s Margaret, played by Lindsay Duncan, and 2011’s The Iron Lady, with Meryl Streep in the part.
The latter won Streep a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Oscar for the titular role, and the film also starred Olivia as Thatcher’s daughter Carol.
She will now play opposite a version of Thatcher once more, this time as Elizabeth II in The Crown, alongside Anderson.
The Crown’s third season is set to be released on Netflix on November 17, 2019.
Announcement: The Crown’s third season is set to be released on Netflix on November 17, 2019
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