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‘The best screen Thatcher yet?’: the art (and craft) of playing the former PM

Harriet Walter’s acclaimed portrayal is the latest of many screen versions. So how do you create the Thatcher persona?Harriet Walter has become the ­latest in a line of actors, from Meryl Streep and Gillian Anderson to Fenella Woolgar and Jennifer Saunders, to accept the challenge of becoming Margaret Thatcher on screen. How do you play a woman who, 45 years on from her ascension, exists almost as a national caricature?Walter plays the part in Brian and Maggie, Channel 4’s two-part drama tracing Thatcher’s relationship with Labour MP turned journalist Brian Walden, which culminated in a fraught TV interview in October 1989, as Thatcher’s fortune began to fail. The series, written by Sherwood creator James Graham, directed by Stephen Frears and co-starring Steve Coogan, digs into the former prime minister’s private persona. Continue reading...



This article discusses the various screen portrayals of Margaret Thatcher, focusing on Harriet Walter's latest interpretation in "Brian and Maggie." The main conceptual idea is the challenge and evolution of portraying Thatcher on screen. Previous portrayals often leaned into caricature, emphasizing her public image and iconic traits like her voice and hairstyle. Walter's performance, however, aims for a more nuanced portrayal, delving into Thatcher's private persona and offering a different perspective beyond the established stereotypes. The article highlights the difficulty of capturing Thatcher's complex character, questioning whether Walter ultimately succeeds in creating the "best screen Thatcher yet." Ultimately, the article explores the artistic and technical choices actors make when embodying a figure as recognizable and controversial as Margaret Thatcher.

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