EastEnders’ Laura Doddington Almost Left Acting for a Different Career
She’s become one of the soap’s breakout stars, with a nomination for Best Newcomer at this year’s British Soap Awards. But…
Netflix’s hotly-anticipated film Scoop was released on Friday and fans have gone wild over the new drama, hailing it as ‘absolutely brilliant’.
However some eagle-eyed fans have been left slightly baffled as they spotted Gillian Anderson’s ‘secret nod to The Crown’.
The actress, 55, has taken on the role of the renowned journalist Emily Maitlis in the film which recreates the cringe-inducing 2019 interview between Emily and Prince Andrew to the most meticulous detail.
Gillian previously received widespread critical acclaim for her portrayal as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown.
And while her physical resemblance to the journalist in Scoop is uncanny, her voice suggested she hadn’t quite left her role as the former British Prime Minister behind.
Scoop fans were left baffled as they spotted Gillian Anderson’s ‘secret nod to The Crown’ in the new Netflix drama which was released on Friday
Gillian’s physical resemblance to the journalist is uncanny, yet her voice suggested she hadn’t quite left her role as the former British Prime Minister behind
Instead of sounding like the former Newsnight presenter, viewers thought she sounded very similar to her role in the Netflix royal drama.
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter fans wrote: ‘Wow! Heard a clip on the radio this morning and without vision thought that Gillian Anderson sounded exactly like Margaret Thatcher!’
‘I agree, Gillian Anderson’s voice was awful. Really off putting – I could only hear Margaret thatcher too.’; ‘PSA: Gillian Anderson is doing her Thatcher voice in SCOOP.’
‘Half way through and really enjoying it. Although I think Gillian Anderson keeps lapsing into her Maggie T voice which is disconcerting!’; ‘Gillian Anderson’s rasping voice as Emily Maitlis sounded half-strangled.’
‘Did Gillian Anderson really use her Margaret Thatcher voice when portraying Emily Maitlis?’; ‘Gillian Anderson just picked up her Margaret Thatcher role and changed costume? The whole thing was old news.’
Talk TV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer gave the film a scathing review as she penned: ‘While the actual Emily Maitlis interview was superb journalism, Scoop is deathly slow and ponderous. The star studded cast is wooden, and Gillian Anderson sounds more like Margaret Thatcher than Maitlis. You’re better off watching paint dry.’
Others wrote: ‘Gillian Anderson making Emily Maitlis sound like her Margaret Thatcher #Scoop But no.’; ‘Watching Scoop, all I see with Gillian Anderson is Margaret Thatcher not Emily Maitlis.’; ‘Oh, except that Gillian Anderson’s Emily Maitlis is brilliant, but occasionally a bit too much like her Margaret Thatcher.’
Gillian previously admitted she found playing former Newsnight presenter more daunting than her role as Thatcher.
The actress, 55, has taken on the role of the renowned journalist Emily Maitlis in Netflix film Scoop which recreates the cringe-inducing 2019 interview between Emily and Prince Andrew to the most meticulous detail
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter fans wrote: ‘Wow! Heard a clip on the radio this morning and without vision thought that Gillian Anderson sounded exactly like Margaret Thatcher!’
Talk TV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer gave the film a scathing review
Speaking about the pressure playing Emily, Gillian confessed: ‘It was the first time that I’ve played a real-life character who is still alive. And I have to say, it’s more daunting playing an Emily Maitlis than a Margaret Thatcher even.
‘People know Emily so well, they listen to her daily, they watch her and have for years.’
Meanwhile Gillian took to Instagram on Friday to celebrate the release of Netflix’s Scoop with a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps.
She shared a glimpse from the make-up trailer and documented co-star Rufus Sewell’s transformation into Prince Andrew.
In the snaps Gillian stands behind the actor, 56, who is having prosthetics applied to his face in order to resemble the Duke of York for the film which documents his infamous car crash BBC interview.
The duo beam for the camera before during and after the application, with Gillian also showing off her costume and blonde wig.
The X-Files star captioned the post: ‘Just a straightforward shooting week (and!) Scoop is out on Netflix today!’.
In the interview, which was described as a ‘car crash’, Emily quizzed the Duke about his friendship with the late-convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
Gillian took to Instagram on Friday to celebrate the release of Netflix’s Scoop with a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps (pictured with co-star Rufus Sewell as he was covered in prosthetics to be transformed into Prince Andrew)
She shared a glimpse from the make-up trailer and documented co-star Rufus Sewell’s transformation
Rufus (left) plays The Duke Of York in the hotly anticipated movie
Emily discussed Virginia Giuffre’s claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 under the orders of Epstein.
The prince strongly denied the claims throughout the interview.
Billie Piper stars alongside Gillian as Newsnight booker Sam, while Rufus Sewell is playing Prince Andrew, and Keeley Hawes takes on the role of Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk in the hotly-anticipated drama.
After the interview a statement from Buckingham Palace said Prince Andrew was suspended from public duties ‘for the foreseeable future’.
In May 2020, it was announced that the prince was permanently stepping down from his public roles.
