Awkward moment Gillian Anderson is asked if she’s ‘spoken to Margaret Thatcher’ about playing her in The Crown

Gillian Anderson, star of Sex Education, The Crown and many other shows, was made to answer a rather awkward question when she accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series on Sunday.

Anderson nabbed the gong – her first in 24 years - for her role as controversial prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the Netflix royal drama, and in her acceptance speech thanked the streaming platform “for everything” and show writer Peter Morgan for “creating this role”.

However, in an interview after picking up the award, she was asked another question about “the whole Margaret Thatcher thing”.

“First question: have you talked to her about this role at all,” said the reporter.

Anderson was understandably stumped by the question, given that Thatcher died in April 2013.

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“Well- I’d.. Erm, I have not spoken to Margaret,” she replied.

The unusual line of questioning has since been met with disbelief and ridicule from fans online:

Episode of The X Files with the ghost of Maggie Thatcher, anyone?