“In the period before the arrival of Mrs. Thatcher, politics had been in such low esteem. Everything was so hedged, so mealy-mouthed. Then along came this woman who seemed to have no manners at all and said exactly what she thought. Everyone's eyes were popping and their jaws were dropping, and I really enjoyed that.”

British playwright and screenwriter

Sir Tom Stoppard was a British playwright and screenwriter, known for his work for stage, film, radio, and television. He came to prominence through his plays and became one of the most widely performed dramatists of his generation. His writing often explored human rights, censorship, political freedom, and the philosophical questions behind society. He was a playwright of the Royal National Theatre, was knighted in 1997 for his contribution to theatre, and received the Order of Merit in 2000.