The Crown: Gillian Anderson joins cast of Netflix show, to play Margaret Thatcher in season 4

Gillian Anderson is set to star as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of Netflix series The Crown.

According to Deadline, the fourth season is likely to move into the 1970s, where Thatcher served as Britain's first female Prime Minister between 1979 to 1990.

The third season of the drama, which will premiere this year, will see Olivia Colman replace Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II and Tobias Menzies replacing Matt Smith as Prince Philip.

Gillian Anderson. Image from Facebook

As per the same report, the third installment will begin in 1963 and will focus on events such as the rise of the Beatles and England winning the soccer World Cup in 1966. Characters such as Camilla Parker Bowles, Call the Midwife's Emerald Fennell will begin featuring during the season.

The season will also have Ben Daniels as Antony Armstrong-Jones, starring alongside Helena Bonham Carter's Princess Margaret.

Gillian Anderson's recent outing on the silver screen was in Netflix's British comedy drama Sex Education where the actress essays the role of a sex therapist.

However, Anderson's fans may have to wait for a whole year before getting the next glimpse of her on screen as the third season of the Left Bank drama is yet to air.

(With inputs from The Press Trust of India)