Cringe...
Actors often play characters based on real people who are still alive, and it's not unusual for stars to meet up with those people to get inspiration for how to play them.
Ben Whishaw spent time with the real Norman Scott before playing him in A Very English Scandal, for instance.
But it is slightly trickier for an actor to glean inspiration from a public figure who passed away almost a decade ago.
After winning the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress at the Emmys over the weekend, Gillian Anderson was asked the clanger of all questions by an underprepared journalist during a press conference.
"Hi Gillian, congratulations I love you on this show,’ the journalist said. "Just to continue with the whole Margaret Thatcher thing, first question, have you talked to her about this role at all? And secondly, why do you think it has taken America so long to get a female leader?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKDSDy8IYtM&feature=emb_title
"Erm, well, I have not spoken to Margaret. Umm, umm," Gillian replied awkwardly - but rather than embarrass the journalist by breaking the news that Britain's first female Prime Minister passed away in 2013, she just moved on.
The journalist had also asked why it's taken so long for America to get a female leader, so Gillian politely posited some thoughts about Kamala Harris potentially being fit for office.
[caption id="attachment_289782" align="alignnone" width="1076"]
Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher in season 4 of The Crown[/caption]
Gillian played Margaret Thatcher in season four of The Crown, and one memorable storyline involved Thatcher visiting the Queen at her Scottish residence in Balmoral for the weekend. There, Thatcher was enlisted to play silly games with the royal family after dinner, and social media users were obsessed with the game of Ibble Dibble.
https://twitter.com/SirJDW_/status/1328038349043601408
https://twitter.com/jbaker475/status/1342295622628601863
https://twitter.com/pxkerwithelIen/status/1330605200068009985
Gillian Anderson last won an Emmy 24 years ago, for The X-Files, when she took home Outstanding Lead Actress.
Anderson is currently back on screens as sex therapist Dr Jean F.Milburn on Sex Education, the mum of main character Otis, played by Asa Butterfield.
Related links:
Thousands sign up to throw eggs at Margaret Thatcher statue unveiling
One of Hawking's great regrets was not having an opportunity to run over Margaret Thatcher's toes
Gillian Anderson will play Margaret Thatcher in Netflix's The Crown
