The Iron Lady (2011)

Alexandra Roach: Young Margaret Thatcher

Photos 

Quotes 

• Young Denis Thatcher : Margaret, will you marry me?

  [a pause, Margaret stares at him] 

  Young Denis Thatcher : Well?

  Young Margaret Thatcher : [Margaret is still staring, Denis kisses her hand]  Yes. Yes!

  Young Denis Thatcher : [Margaret starts to cry from happiness, Denis leans in for a kiss, but she suddenly pulls back]  What?

  Young Margaret Thatcher : I love you so much but, I will never be one of those women, Denis. Who stays silent and pretty on the arm of her husband. Or remote and alone in the kitchen - doing the washing up, for that matter.

  Young Denis Thatcher : [interrupts]  I'm going to help with that...

  Young Margaret Thatcher : No. One's life must matter, Dennis. Beyond all the cooking and the cleaning and the children. One's life must mean more than that. I cannot die washing up a teacup! I mean it, Denis. Say you understand.

  Young Denis Thatcher : That's why I want to marry you, my dear.

• Young Margaret Thatcher : What I do think is that a man should be encouraged to stand on his own two feet. Yes we help people. Of course we help people. But for those that can do, they must just get up and do. And if something's wrong, they shouldn't just whine about it, they should get in there and DO something about it, change things.

  Host 1949 : With all due respect, Miss Roberts, what may have served in Grantham...

  Young Margaret Thatcher : Can serve very well for the people of Dartford too.

  Male Guest - 1949 : Really?

  Young Margaret Thatcher : I know much more than those who have never lived on a limited income. Just like the man or woman on the street, when I am short one week, I have to make economies the next.

  Grey Suited Guest - 1949 : Nothing like a slice of fiscal responsibility.

  Young Margaret Thatcher : A man might call it fiscal responsibility, a woman might call it good housekeeping.

  Male Guest - 1949 : I'm not sure a home economics lesson is quite what the Dartford constituents need. They see industry being nationalized, the unions on the up, the pound on the slide... whoever can sort that lot out - he's my man.

  Young Margaret Thatcher : or woman?