The picture above is indeed Meryl Streep looking uncannily like Maggie Thatcher during her 80s heyday. If Streep can get Maggie’s famous voice down perfectly it could be rather eerie watching her play the divisive Prime Minister. The image was released to help announce that The Iron Lady has started filming, with Streep in the title role. Take a look at the official press release below.
“The prospect of exploring the swathe cut through history by this remarkable woman is a daunting and exciting challenge. I am trying to approach the role with as much zeal, fervour and attention to detail as the real Lady Thatcher
possesses – I can only hope my stamina will begin to approach her own!” MERYL STREEP
Pathé announces that principal photography has begun on THE IRON LADY. Written by award-winning writer Abi Morgan (Sex Traffic, Brick Lane, White Girl), directed by Phyllida Lloyd CBE (Mamma Mia) and produced by Damian Jones (The History Boys, Adulthood). The film will be executive produced by Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken for Pathé, by Tessa Ross for Film4 and by Adam Kulick for Goldcrest.THE IRON LADY tells the compelling story of Margaret Thatcher, a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power, and is a surprising and intimate portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman.
The film stars Academy Award-winners Meryl Streep as Lady Thatcher and Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher. Their young selves are played by Alexandra Roach and Harry Lloyd. The rest of the cast of family and friends, politicians and advisers, is made up of the very best of British acting talent, including: Olivia Colman, Nicholas Farrell, Susan Brown, Roger Allam, Anthony Head, Julian Wadham, Pip Torrens, Nick Dunning, Richard E Grant, David Westhead, Angus Wright and John Sessions.
The film is a Pathé, Film4, UK Film Council presentation with the participation of Canal+ and Cine Cinema in association with Goldcrest Film Production LLP of a DJ Films Production.
Pathé will distribute the film in France; and Fox will distribute the film in the UK on behalf of Pathé.
Pathé International will handle International sales.
Shooting began on location in the UK on 31st January 2011