She largely kept herself out of the fray during the fractious EU referendum, and rose to the top as her rivals floundered amid the aftershocks of a seismic shift in British politics. Meet Theresa May.
Who is she?
Image:Mrs May has often been compared to Margaret Thatcher
Britain's second female prime minister, in the job since July 2016. Cue the Margaret Thatcher comparisons.
She was home secretary for six years before that, one of the toughest jobs in British politics and the graveyard of many a ministerial career.
Born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on 1 October 1956, she grew up in Wheatley, Oxfordshire - the only child of Zaidee and Hubert Braiser, a vicar.
She started working for the Bank of England after studying at Oxford, then moved into politics and became MP for Maidenhead in Berkshire in 1997.
Unique Selling Point?
Image:Mrs May had various roles in shadow cabinet, including in 1999 under then leader William Hague
A serious politician for serious times. Mrs May is an experienced operator who was blooded in one of the toughest Cabinet roles before entering Downing Street.
She, too, seems happy to use that description of herself, recently saying EU boss Jean-Claude Juncker will be the next person to find her a "bloody difficult woman".
Family life?
Image:Theresa and Philip May together in 2004
She is married to Philip May, who she met at a Conservative disco while at Oxford. They were introduced by Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan.
They have been together for more than 30 years and Mr May, who works in the City, has been described as her "rock".
Both of her parents died while Mrs May was in her 20s. Her father was killed in a car crash, while her mother, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, died shortly afterwards.
State or private?
A little bit of both. She attended a state primary, an independent convent school and then a grammar before reading Geography at St Hugh's College, Oxford.
And her children?
Image:Mrs May on not being able to have children: 'You accept the hand that life deals you'
Mrs May spoke last year about her heartbreak at not being able to have children, saying it had "affected" both her and her husband.
"You see friends who now have grown-up children, but you accept the hand that life deals you," she told the Mail.
"Sometimes things you wish had happened don't or there are things you wish you'd been able to do, but can't. There are other couples in a similar position."
Inspiration?
Her father, Hubert.
When she launched her leadership campaign, Mrs May referenced her upbringing, saying: "I grew up the daughter of a local vicar and the granddaughter of a regimental sergeant major.
"Public service has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember."
High point?
Image:Mrs May with her husband Philip outside Number 10
Entering Downing Street. Those who know Mrs May said she had harboured such an ambition for decades.
Refusing to extradite computer hacker Gary McKinnon to the US and deporting radical preacher Abu Hamza during her time at the Home Office are also up there.
Low point?
Image:Immigration has proved to be a thorny issue for the PM
The buck ultimately stopped with David Cameron and EU membership allows for free movement, but failing to cut net migration (the difference between those entering and leaving) to below 100,000 has become a millstone around Mrs May's neck because she was Home Secretary at the time the pledge was made.
And so far she has indicated she is sticking to policy.
Top tweet?
This message posted after becoming PM, including a video of Mrs May speaking outside Downing Street, got more than 3,600 retweets:
We will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us.https://t.co/4pEvp4Ga9h
"This is why we need strong and stable leadership."
Least likely to say?
"Let's just wing it."
Don't mention?
Image:David Cameron's migration pledge has caused trouble for his successor
Immigration (see above) and taxes (she has indicated she will ditch the Tory pledge not to raise taxes).
Most likely to be replaced by?
Image:Boris Johnson could very well succeed Theresa May
Such talk is premature given Mrs May is widely expected to win the election handily.
But keep an eye on the likes of Chancellor Philip Hammond, Home Secretary Amber Rudd, International Development Secretary Priti Patel, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson. Boris Johnson could very well stand this time if he does a solid job as Foreign Secretary.
Amber Rudd. She supported Mrs May's leadership bid and was chosen for one of the Great Offices of State (PM, Chancellor, Foreign and Home) just six years after becoming an MP.
Thorn in side?
Image:Relations with Brussels have deteriorated in recent weeks
Those pesky eurocrats in Brussels, with their demands Britain pays a hefty divorce bill for Brexit and their insistence there will be no "free lunch" for Britain as it sorts out leaving the EU.
