Gillian Anderson rumoured to be joining the cast of 'The Crown'

The 'X-Files' star will take on the role of Margaret Thatcher in the drama's fourth season, according to reports

Gillian Anderson is set to join the cast of 'The Crown' for season four, according to reports. Victor Besa for The National

The Crown has found its Iron Lady. Gillian Anderson will take on the role of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the Netflix drama, according to multiple reports, with the British-American actress set to make her debut in season four of the series.

The Chicago-born star will begin filming for the Golden Globe-winning drama – which chronicles the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II – this summer, the Sunday Times reports.

Anderson will follow in the footsteps of actresses such as Meryl Streep (who won an Oscar for her efforts) and Lesley Manville, who have also portrayed Thatcher on-screen. The Conservative politician, who died in 2013, served as the UK's first female prime minister from 1979 to 1990.

The Fall star Anderson will act opposite Olivia Colman, who has taken over the reins from Claire Foy to play Queen Elizabeth II throughout seasons three and four.

Season three of The Crown, which will air later this year, also sees Matt Smith replaced by Outlander star Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, and Helena Bonham Carter take over the role of Princess Margaret from Vanessa Kirby.

The 10-episode season will begin in 1963, and cover Great Britain during the time of Beatlemania and its 1966 World Cup win, as well as introduce characters such as Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Duchess of Cornwall.

Season four is expected to begin in the 1970s, where Thatcher started her tenure as Britain's longest-serving prime minister of the century. The polarising politician was known for her tough, often uncompromising stance on issues such as reducing the power of trade unions and privatising industries.

Neither Netflix nor Anderson – who is set to star in a stage adaptation of 1950 film All About Eve in London's West End from next month – have yet confirmed or denied the news. Anderson, who currently resides in the UK, rose to fame playing Agent Scully in sci-fi TV show The X-Files, and has a lengthy CV that also includes roles in Great Expectations, War & Peace and American Gods.

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