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Reporter Awkwardly Asks Gillian Anderson If She's Talked With Margaret Thatcher—Who Died In 2013
It was a big night for The Crown at the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, taking home seven awards in total, including Best Drama Series.
It was the first Netflix series to take home the top drama series prize, but also became the first drama series to win every major award in the drama category.
Included among the seven awards taken home by The Crown was Best Supporting Actress for Gillian Anderson, taking home her second career Emmy, this time for her acclaimed performance as former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Anderson, who was celebrating the awards with several cast and crew members from The Crown in London, attended the customary press conference following her win, answering several questions remotely.
A reporter from Entertainment Tonight: Canadaasked Anderson what it meant for her to teach a whole new generation about Margaret Thatcher.
Anderson confessed she hadn't given the idea of bringing "The Iron Lady" to modern audiences much thought, but called playing her an "extraordinary experience" as well as one of the "hardest things [she'd] done to date."
Tanya Hart from American Urban Radio Networks, asked Anderson a follow up question also linked to the United Kingdom's controversial, first female Prime Minister.
"So just to kind of continue with the whole Margaret Thatcher thing, first question is if you've 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?"
It would have been quite the accomplishment if Anderson had managed to get some first-hand research from Mrs. Thatcher.
She's been dead since 2013.
No doubt surprised by the question, Anderson's head was captured taking a noticeable roll, with the size of her eyes seeming to grow.
But if it took Anderson a moment or two to find words, she graciously, and honestly, answered Hart's question, by declaring she had "not spoken to Margaret."
Anderson chose not to point out Hart's mistake as she continued to answer the second part of her question, agreeing the United States is far behind the United Kingdom when it comes to female leadership, but stated she believes that current Vice President Kamala Harris might be a sign of good things to come.
While Anderson remained diplomatic when faced with Hart's misinformation, people on Twitter did not, and were quick to poke fun at Hart's blunder.reporter asks if Gillian Anderson has talked to Margaret Thatcher about her role in The Crown. this is like a Fred Willard character.pic.twitter.com/JLlAafbpBV— Shawn Hils (@Shawn Hils) 1632140064
you\u2019re telling me that reporter who asked gillian anderson if she\u2019s talked to margaret thatcher recently wasn\u2019t joking?pic.twitter.com/I3Qg14x3Is— kathleen (@kathleen) 1632164011
Gillian Anderson deserves another Emmy for keeping a polite face and answering the reporter who asked if she spoke to Margaret Thatcher about her role in The Crown— v (@v) 1632139747
Omg! https://www.insider.com/emmys-reporter-asks-gillian-anderson-spoken-margaret-thatcher-the-crown-2021-9\u00a0\u2026— BookAddictGrrl \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udc89 (@BookAddictGrrl \ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udc89) 1632162295
One amusing tweet pointed out how Anderson's previous Emmy winning character, The X-Files' Dana Scully, would have been able to talk to the late Prime Minister.
Hart may have simply confused the actress with the character.
/Anderson was asked by a US reporter if she had \u201ctalked to Thatcher at all\u201d about her role.//\n\nMaybe the reporter confused Gillian Anderson with Dana Scully?https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/gillian-anderson-margaret-thatcher-emmys-b1923202.html\u00a0\u2026— Kiwi Ting \ud83d\ude37 (@Kiwi Ting \ud83d\ude37) 1632152804
Most people commended Anderson for graciously taking the high road and choosing not to correct and embarrass Hart in the moment, with some even claiming she delivered another award-worthy performance.
After her well-deserved WIN as Margaret Thatcher in Season 4 of #TheCrown, a reporter asks @GillianA if \u201c\u2026she spoke to Margaret Thatcher\u201d about the role. Gillian\u2019s answer is graceful & kind but her head tilt says what the rest of us were thinking. \n\nhttps://www.thewrap.com/gillian-anderson-margaret-thatcher/\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/h5433hmWAL— Geek To Me Radio (@Geek To Me Radio) 1632150594
Very classy of Gillian Anderson not to slam-dunk the reporter who asked if she'd spoken to Margaret Thatcher. I don't think I'd have been able to hold my tongue had it been me, so full credit to Ms Anderson for her diplomatic response.https://twitter.com/leoadriangarcia/status/1439811727864918020\u00a0\u2026— Simoney Kyriakou (@Simoney Kyriakou) 1632141030
How gracious was @GillianA when asked by a young reporter at the Emmys if she'd spoken with Margaret Thatcher about her role. She could have humiliated her. But didn't.— Don't Mess With Tess\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89 (@Don't Mess With Tess\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89) 1632124059
REPORTER: Have you talked to Margaret Thatcher about this role at all ?\n\n#GillianAnderson : I have not spoken to Margaret. ** this should win a The Most Graceful Answer To A Weirdest Question Award \n\n(Mrs Thatcher passed away in 2013)pic.twitter.com/dZhvGiQGSZ— Diana Skrt (@Diana Skrt) 1632149452
Anderson's inherent diplomacy was used in her performance as one of the world's most notorious politicians, rendering meeting the late Prime minister unnecessary.
Margaret Thatcher has proven to be something of an awards magnet, as Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her portrayal of the late Prime Minister in the 2011 biopic The Iron Lady.