简介：It’sNovember1990andBritain’slongestservingPrimeMinsterformorethan150yearsisabouttoannounceherresignationafteralmost11yearsinoffice.ShehasjustbeenforcedtofaceanotherballotforthepositionofConservativeleader(illustratedherebyanamusingbitoffootagefeaturingJohnSergeant)andherpartyallyGeoffreyHowehasjuststeppeddownduetoherEuropeanpolicy. AndsomarksthepoliticaldownfallofMaggieThatcher,playedbymulti-BAFTAnominatedactressLindsayDuncanwhostarredasServiliaintheHBO/BBCseriesRome,thesubjectofthisTVfilmentitledMargaretwhichtellsthestoryawomanwhosimplycouldn’tkeepupthefightafterhertimeasBritishPrimeMinister. Thatcher–AHateFigureorPoliticalRevolutionary? ThenameMargaretThatcherdrumsupmanyimagesandpolarisedopinions.Sheissomeonewhowasfamousforhertough-talkingpersona(earningherthenicknamethe‘IronLady’),herstaunchapproachtothetradeunions,theintroductionofthepolltax(andsuccessiveriots)andthe1982FalklandsWar,allofwhichmadeherahatefigureamongstthepoliticallyactiveleft-wingbutviewedasastrongleaderbyhersupporters. Thisfilmisanintimateportrayalofawomanonthebrinkofruin;ahumanstoryaboutMaggiebehindthepublicpersonaassheloseshergriponthepowershehadstrivedtoachieve.InherlastdaystheCabinettellherthatshemustgobeforesheis"humiliated"andsheisbeingchallengedbyherlongtimerivalMichaelHeseltine. Thestoryisalsocomplementedbyflashesto15yearspreviouslyshowingMaggiechallengingthethenConservativeleaderTedHeathandhowsherosethroughtheranksoftheToryparty. “Adramanotadocumentary”–saysMargaretWriterRichardCottan It’snotthefirsttimeThatcherhasbeendocumentedonscreeneitherthroughreal-lifefootageorinfictionalaccountsbutit’sonethatisboundtoconfrontyourperceptiononthepersonitportrays.Thetoughesttaskhowevermustbetryingtomakeeventhemosthardenedanti-Thatcheritefeelanysympathyforher. ScreenwriterRichardCottansaid:“WhatIwastryingtodowastotakethedownfallasthenarrativespineofamorepersonalstory.Whenwritingthescriptthebiggestchallengewasdecidingwhattoleaveout.I'msuretherewillbemuchdebateabouttheblurringbetweenfactandfictionbutIconsiderthistobeadramanotadocumentary.” AnImpressiveSupportingCastforMargaret TheproducershavemanagedtoattractanexcitingarrayofveteranactorstoportrayherclosestalliesandadvisorsincludingIanMcDiarmid(EmperorPalpatinefromtheStarWarsfilms)asThatcher'shusbandDenis,RobertHardy(AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall)ashertrustedsecond-in-commandWillieWhitelaw,PhilipJackson(Poirot)asno-nonsensepresssecretaryBernardInghamandKevinMcNally(PiratesOfTheCaribbeanandrecentlyITV’sDemons)asKennethClarke. ThesupportingcastalsolistsJohnSessionsasGeoffreyHowe,MichaelMaloney(NotesOnAScandal)takingtheroleasThatcher'ssuccessorJohnMajor,RoyMarsden(ThePalace)asNormanTebbit,Casualty’sNigelLeVaillantasformerConservativePrimeMinsterTedHeathandanappearancebytheQueenplayedbyRosemaryLeach. WhetherornotthecontentofMargaretandthehumansideofThatcherwillappealtomostpeopletheprospectofseeingsuchanimpressivedisplayoftalentononescreenistootemptingtomiss. RegardlessofyourpersonalopinionsontheThatchergovernmentanddespitebeingvilifiedbynumerouscomedians(namelyBenElton)andcountlessrockbandsoverthedecadesshestillremainsasoneofthemostimportantpoliticalfiguresinBritishhistoryandthereasonwhysheisstillthetopicofTVshowsalmost20yearslater.…