Gillian Anderson Tipped To Play Margaret Thatcher In 'The Crown', And Fans Have A Lot Of Thoughts

The reaction has been mixed, to say the least.
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Gillian Anderson has been tipped to appear in an upcoming series of ‘The Crown’, in the role of Margaret Thatcher.

Over the weekend, The Sunday Times was the first to claim that Gillian would be playing the former prime minister in the fourth series of the Netflix period drama, which will cover the events in the British royal family and Parliament during the 1970s.

Gillian at the premiere of 'The Crown' in 2017
Gillian at the premiere of 'The Crown' in 2017
Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock

Although these reports are yet to be confirmed, that hasn’t stopped fans of ‘The Crown’ venting their excitement at this latest casting rumour


Friends are sending me the “Gillian Anderson to play Thatcher in The Crown” announcement like I just had a baby, and yes I am ecstatic, excited, cautious, and worried. pic.twitter.com/DObPF1xj39

— Guy Branum (@guybranum) January 20, 2019

Hold up. Gillian Anderdad is playing Maggie Thatcher (opposite Olivia Colman's Elizabeth) in The Crown? More like The Cast!

— Kyle Stevens (@cinementalist) January 20, 2019

Me: I wish Gillian Anderson was on my TV more...

*Gillian Anderson cast as Margaret Thatcher* pic.twitter.com/iHpUb0kpXM

— Danny (@BrianKiddsMate) January 20, 2019

If I had a time machine, I think I'd only use it to travel forward a year to watch this. https://t.co/TeV4qVKq0o

— Mark Humphries (@markhumphries) January 20, 2019

I CAN’T BELIEVE GILLIAN IS PLAYING MAGGIE THATCHER TO OLIVIA’S ELIZABETH II AND HBC’S MARGARET HOLY SHIT pic.twitter.com/YfH6foSkiW

— hannah (@oliviacoImans) January 20, 2019

It’s with great regret that I inform you all that I died at 11.40am when I read this. My ashes will be scattered on Letterfrack Bay after a service in which mourners will be asked to dress as their favourite X files characters, including aliens, and an airing of series one. https://t.co/MnExPLSVLs

— Niecy O'Keeffe (@NiecyOKeeffe) January 20, 2019

gillian anderson is going to sweep awards season 2019 for sex education and 2020 for the crown and i’m so fucking proud of her

— mia (@ohgilllian) January 20, 2019

Me: the crown is Tory propaganda
Netflix: Olivia Colman as the queen and Gillian Anderson as Maggie thatcher
Me: pic.twitter.com/5nsdk0brD1

— medicine time (@ginoodle) January 20, 2019

i woke up to the news that gillian anderson is playing margaret thatcher in the crown and i genuinely had a heart attack from excitement she is going to kill it

— tita // exams (@titasjournall) January 20, 2019

like y’all do not understand IVE BEEN SAYING I WANTED THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND NOW ITSTRUE

— tita // exams (@titasjournall) January 20, 2019

YES! !!!!!!Gillian will play Margaret Thatcher in the four season of The Crown!
I'm so happy for her!!! #GillianAnderson pic.twitter.com/R1bEljNfSr

— Dani (@Dani_Auso) January 20, 2019

...even though some left-leaning viewers have been left feeling conflicted, to say the least


In ‘WHAT? news’ news, Gillian Anderson will play - gulp - Margaret Thatcher in series 4 of #TheCrown. Neil Kinnock will probably now be played by Ryan Gosling. pic.twitter.com/mcSmlJdWx9

— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) January 20, 2019

me: Margaret Thatcher was an evil witch whose austerity was designed to kill the poor

Gillian Anderson as the Iron Lady: h-

me: pic.twitter.com/QEvliivKEf

— hattie (@hattiesoykan) January 20, 2019

nothing's fine i'm torn https://t.co/oszkxBOOyq

— Harry McDonald (@_DandyHarold) January 20, 2019

You made me like the Queen and Phil (and Mags, obv) but please don't make me like Thatcher. It's not fair. https://t.co/qXXbrgHXir

— Cait (@caitdocmorgan) January 21, 2019

Why would they do this to us?!

Gillian Anderson *swoon*

Margaret Thatcher 😐 https://t.co/OThJfnL79d

— SorryNotSorry (@sncrlynotsorry) January 21, 2019

Oh great, cast Gillian Anderson as Thatcher so now everyone's going to like Thatcher

— Seb Patrick (@sebpatrick) January 20, 2019

I’m sure Gillian Anderson will ace playing Margaret Thatcher but at the same time, Thatcher doesn’t deserve to be played by Gillian Anderson

— Lewis Knight (@ThatsOurLewis) January 20, 2019

I’m so torn by this. Love @GillianA in pretty much anything but as Thatcher?! #TheCrown pic.twitter.com/JjwfvNmXvs

— Mr. Meredith (@owen_meredith__) January 20, 2019

Really conflicted on this tbh. đŸ€ŁđŸ’” Of course @GillianA will be amazing as always. But, ew Thatcher. pic.twitter.com/sa5nXJ6njB

— Aquatint (@Aquatint) January 20, 2019

A representative for Netflix declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost UK.

Best known for her portrayal of Agent Dana Scully in ‘The X Files’, Gillian recently won a legion of new fans thanks to her role as sex therapist Jean Milburn in another hit Netflix original series, ‘Sex Education’.

‘The Crown’ returns for its third series later this year, with Olivia Colman succeeding Claire Foy in the role of Queen Elizabeth II, a part which earned Claire both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

It’s not just the Queen who’s getting a new actress, though, with a huge reshuffle of the cast seeing Tobias Menzies joining as Prince Philip, and Helena Bonham Carter taking over as Princess Margaret.

‘God’s Own Country’ and ‘The Durrells’ actor Josh O’Connor will play Prince Charles, while new characters will include Camilla Parker-Bowles, Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Lady Diana Spencer.

The fourth series of ‘The Crown’ – in which Gillian is tipped to play Thatcher – is expected to debut on Netflix in 2020.

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