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The Crown’s Gillian Anderson promises ‘new, emotional side’ to Margaret Thatcher as her son goes missing in season 4

THE Crown's Gillian Anderson has promised a 'new, emotional side' to Margaret Thatcher as her son goes missing in season 4.

The 52-year-old actress joins the Netflix series for its upcoming fourth season as Britain's first female Prime Minister.

 

Gillian Anderson says The Crown viewers will see an emotional side to Margaret Thatcher in season four
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Gillian Anderson says The Crown viewers will see an emotional side to Margaret Thatcher in season fourCredit: Getty - Contributor

While Margaret was nicknamed the 'Iron Lady' during her tenure, Gillian has revealed viewers will see a different side to her on the show, especially around her son Mark's disappearance for six days in the Sahara desert in 1982.

She told the : "We certainly see another side of Thatcher that has more of an emotional life than perhaps has been seen before.

"For instance, in terms of the episodes where her son goes missing. That is grounded, well-founded and well-documented emotion that she was experiencing at that time, so it doesn’t feel like it’s out of order in a way.

"It’s a whole portrait. It’s not a one-dimensional portrait.”

Gillian plays Britain's first female Prime Minister in the upcoming series of the Netflix show
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Gillian plays Britain's first female Prime Minister in the upcoming series of the Netflix showCredit: Netflix 2020, Inc
Margaret Thatcher was known as the Iron Lady but the series will show a more emotional side to her
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Margaret Thatcher was known as the Iron Lady but the series will show a more emotional side to her Credit: Getty - Contributor

Pictures from the series show Gillian's transformation into the formidable PM, complete with bouffant hair and sharp suits.

However, the actress insists getting Margaret's distinctive voice right was the key to the role rather than the aesthetics.

She explained: "First and foremost, finding her voice seemed to be the first physical way in.

"And once feeling comfortable there, the other elements of it end up feeling like cherries on top.

Gillian said the PM's distinctive voice was crucial to get right rather than all the hair, make-up and clothes
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Gillian said the PM's distinctive voice was crucial to get right rather than all the hair, make-up and clothesCredit: Corbis - Getty

"You can have all of the physical accoutrements that you want for Thatcher, but if you don’t have the voice then it’s not going to fly.”

As for the scenes between Margaret and the Queen, played by Olivia Colman, Gillian revealed they are tense but not necessarily "fiery".

She said: “There are a few audiences where they push each other’s buttons. They certainly don’t raise their voices, but they definitely push each other’s buttons.”

Season four of The Crown premieres on Netflix on Sunday, November 15, while seasons 1-3 are available now.

Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher in the The Crown season 4 trailer

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