Oscar winner Meryl Streep has undergone a dramatic transformation for her role as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a forthcoming biopic about her life called ‘The Iron Lady.’ Streep has adopted Thatcher’s trademark bouffant hairstyle, ruby-red lipstick and pearl earrings for her part in the film about Britain’s longest continuously serving premier of the 20th century.
“The prospect of exploring the swathe cut through history by this remarkable woman is a daunting and exciting challenge,” said Streep, in a statement from the film’s producers. “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.”
The movie, due for release later this year, reunites Streep, 61, with ‘Mamma Mia!’ director Phyllida Lloyd and also stars veteran British actor Jim Broadbent as Thatcher’s husband Denis. Other members of the cast include Richard E. Grant and comedian John Sessions. The script for the film, which began shooting at the end of January, covers a broad sweep of Thatcher’s career.
Pathe, which is producing the movie with Film4 and the UK Film Council, said it is about a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world.
