Notes on a Scandal (titled What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal in the U.S.) is a 2003 novel by Zoë Heller. It tells the story of a female teacher at a London comprehensive school who begins a relationship with an underage student. The author drew inspiration from the real-life case of American middle-school teacher Mary Kay LeTourneau. A 2006 film adaptation starred Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, earning four Academy Award nominations for both actresses and other categories.