First Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher Photo Revealed

Pathé just announced that filming has begun on The Iron Lady, and along with announcing the start of production they've released the first photo of Meryl Streep in character (pictured) as Lady Margaret Thatcher. The biopic reunites Streep with her Mamma Mia! director Phyllida Lloyd which also stars Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher. Filling out the supporting cast are Alexandra Roach and Harry Lloyd (as younger versions of Margaret and Denis Thatcher), 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.

Per the press release, 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 story focuses on Prime Minister Thatcher's actions in the 17 days leading up to the 1982 Falklands War.

Commenting on playing the former Prime Minister of England, Oscar-winner Streep stated, "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, fervor and attention to detail as the real Lady Thatcher possesses - I can only hope my stamina will begin to approach her own!"

I don't know about her stamina, but Streep definitely looks the part (with the help of make-up artists).