The Iron Lady

[julian_craster]

Who is hard and ruthless enough to play Margaret Thatcher ?



Sounds like another Oscar for Dame Helen Mirren....

Any other suggestions for casting?

A very strong woman is needed.....Julia Roberts would be

good for the US market methinks ....





Margaret Thatcher movie planned

From BBC News

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Margaret Thatcher movie planned



A movie about former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the run-up to the 1982 Falklands War is being planned.



Pathe and BBC Films are developing a script for a drama-documentary about the tense political period before the conflict between the UK and Argentina.

It is being produced by Damian Jones, who was behind the recent film version of Alan Bennett's The History Boys.

Last month, another high-profile biopic, of Queen Elizabeth II, won Dame Helen Mirren an Oscar for best actress.



"The proposed film will be a revealing and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher as she battles to save her career in the 17 days immediately preceding the war," Pathe said in a statement.

"The 17-day period is relevant because it was the duration of the British fleet's voyage to the Falklands.



Margaret Thatcher was prime minister from 1979-1990

"During that period, Thatcher had to confront her private fears, face down the men who doubted her and forge the image that even today casts a shadow across the political landscape."

Iain Dale, author of a Baroness Thatcher tribute book, described the era as "a crucial period" during her 11 years in Downing Street.

"It was the closest she came to nearly being toppled, certainly in her first term," he said.

"It was a very emotional time for Margaret Thatcher, so I think there'll be plenty of dramatic effect that the film-makers can use," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The war "confirmed her image as the Iron Lady and almost guaranteed that she won the next election", he added.



"It was actually a vital time in the whole history of the Thatcher government because it almost made her, to quote her own words, unassailable."

Any actress playing the lead role would need to master the way the former prime minister sounded, according to Steve Nallon, who impersonated her on TV satire Spitting Image.



"What they've got to distinguish is the voice that Mrs Thatcher has for Parliament and the voice that she would have had in private," he said.

"That would be the difficulty - finding that private Mrs Thatcher that, frankly, the cameras never saw."

[ChristineCB]

Now, we've had a chance to see Pen's legs, albeit a bit shorter than Maggie's...



And I'm still looking for a way to get back at Steve Crook. I suppose I could volunteer his good name. (ha ha)



But JULIA ROBERTS?!! Oh please...



Kathy Bates maybe. And we could tell her, "You can tie Tony Blair into your upstairs bedroom, put a 2-by-4 between his ankles and whack away..."



Too bad it couldn't have been Ronald Raygun of the Spaced Patrol.

[penfold]

Glenn Close, in full Cruella Deville Mode?? Or you could call it 'The Devil Wears Marks and Spencer support garments' and cast Meryl Streep.....

[ChristineCB]

Even better choices! But I know there's a cadre of most-capable actresses who wouldn't have to feign accents. Maybe politics, but not accents.

[DB7]

name='ChristineCB']

And I'm still looking for a way to get back at Steve Crook. I suppose I could volunteer his good name. (ha ha)

One of the Falklands sheep?

[penfold]

name='ChristineCB']Even better choices! But I know there's a cadre of most-capable actresses who wouldn't have to feign accents. Maybe politics, but not accents.

Margaret isn't what I would call British. Or, in fact, human. Any accent would do. Ingrid Pitt reprising one of her blood-sucking roles of the seventies would be just dandy.

[penfold]

Where would we find the men to play a whole cabinet's worth of Old Etonian sheep whose incompetence allowed the war to happen?? Apart from the current shadow cabinet, of course....

My name's not Ben Elton, Goodnight....

[Moor Larkin]

name='julian_craster'] Julia Roberts would be good for the US market methinks ....

If they must have a Yank, and I can't see why.... or why not, I would have thought Sigourney Weaver would be ideal. Tough as old boots but charming.







Who's up for the Scargill role - that's what I want know







or Heseltine?







The choice of Hairdresser should be a crucial job for this movie....

[DB7]

name='penfold']Where would we find the men to play a whole cabinet's worth of Old Etonian sheep whose incompetence allowed the war to happen?? Apart from the current shadow cabinet, of course....

My name's not Ben Elton, Goodnight....

And what about the vegetables?

Oh, they'll have the same as me..

[Nick Dando]

I'd say it's heads Kathy Burke, or tails Kathy Staff.



Nick

[ChristineCB]

Where IS that "heresy" thread?!!

[image45]

name='ChristineCB']Where IS that "heresy" thread?!!

Or should that be the 'The choice of Hairesy thread, should be a crucial job for this movie'

[smudge]

name='penfold']Margaret isn't what I would call British. Or, in fact, human. Any accent would do. Ingrid Pitt reprising one of her blood-sucking roles of the seventies would be just dandy.

As Thatcher's cronies would say (on pain of death, no doubt !) "Hear, hear, Penfold !" I'm with you on that one.



But wouldn't the whole film come under the Tory-era video nasty regulations anyhow ? :



SMUDGE

[silverwhistle]

name='smudge']But wouldn't the whole film come under the Tory-era video nasty regulations anyhow ? :

SMUDGE

My sentiments exactly!

A pity Margaret Hamilton (from The Wizard of Oz) is dead...



Since the Thatcher-era pretty well screwed my employment prospects, and the communities I lived in... Yeurgh...!

[Fellwanderer]

name='silverwhistle']My sentiments exactly!

A pity Margaret Hamilton (from The Wizard of Oz) is dead...

Just so.



The last Black Witch I watched couldn't possibly play that B***** W****

Since the Thatcher-era pretty well screwed my employment prospects, and the communities I lived in... Yeurgh...!

Same here with regard to the communities.



I wonder if any self-respecting actress would take on the role - perhaps it should be down to an American!

[Jackdaw]

I can't believe that any actress could portray her as well as Steve Nallon.

His performance was as uncannily accurate as Alistair McGowan's current impression of the ineffable Richard Madeley.

On reflection, perhaps Steve was a little too kind to her. :



Jacky

[ChristineCB]

WILL A MODERATOR PUT A WARNING ON THIS THREADS TITLE?



"Warning - may produce wanton spitting onto screens, keyboards, rib-splitting laughter as readers fall off of their chairs".



Lordy lord...



Oh well, the screen and keyboard probably needed a good mopping.

[penfold]

I think Al Pacino should reprise his Arthur Scargill from 'Strike'.....perhaps Edward Fox as Heseltine??

[Fellwanderer]

name='penfold']I think Al Pacino should reprise his Arthur Scargill from 'Strike'.....perhaps Edward Fox as Heseltine??

Good call.



Come to think of it, Margaret Hamilton would be ideal

[smudge]

name='Fellwanderer']Good call.



Come to think of it, Margaret Hamilton would be ideal

Christine Hamilton, surely ?



SMUDGE