A detailed and compelling portrait of one of the most formidable characters in British politics as she faces her final days in power. The year is 1990 and Margaret Thatcher's support within the government is wavering - her hold on the premiership hangs in the balance. Then, long-serving politician Sir Geoffrey Howe resigns over Thatcher's attitude to Europe. His resignation speech sparks a chain of events that leads to the overthrow of Britain's first woman prime minister. This modern dramatic tragedy illustrates the strengths and fatal flaws of this iconic woman more clearly than ever before and reveals how the very aspects of her character that helped her secure power are the ones that ensured her downfall. Drama starring Lindsay Duncan.
Acting
Lindsay Duncan's Thatcher — brittle, terrifying, desperately human.
Writing
Howe's resignation speech — devastating parliamentary theater.
Director
James Kent
Lindsay Duncan
Margaret Thatcher
Ian McDiarmid
Denis Thatcher
Roger Allam
John Wakeham
Kevin McNally
Kenneth Clarke
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
John Sergeant
Michael Maloney
John Major
Roy Marsden
Norman Tebbit
Guy Henry
Tristan Garel-Jones
Nigel Le Vaillant
Ted Heath
Robert Hardy
Willie Whitelaw
James Fox
Charles Powell
Philip Jackson
Bernard Ingham
John Sessions
Geoffrey Howe
Oliver Cotton
Michael Heseltine
Julian Firth
Norman Lamont
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Filmed in 11 days on a shoestring budget — the cramped sets amplify the claustrophobic collapse.
Released the same year as Meryl Streep's 'Iron Lady' was announced — this underdog TV film arguably captures Thatcher's psychology more precisely.
GB
