What do you get when you cross Davros the Dalek from Dr Who and a transvestite? Margaret Thatcher! Today Pathe Distribution announced the principal photography on THE IRON LADY has started on the Biopic about Margaret Thatcher whose dictatorship ran the fear through the British public during the late 1970’s into 1980’s.
Meyrl Streep will play Maggie (Maggie, Maggie, Out!Out!) and Pathe have sent me the first picture of Meryl as the Iron Lady herself. The excellent Jim Broadbent will play her ever faithfull husband Dennis with Richard E Grant, Olivia Colman, Nicholas Farrell, Susan Brown, Roger Allam, Anthony Head and John Sessions.
The movie will focus on all her life from the days as Margaret Hilda Roberts the shopkeepers daughter right up to the days of when she became Britian’s first (and only) Female Prime Minister. The movie is been directed by Phyllida Lloyd CBE whom Streep workedwith on Mama Mia.
Its ironic that one of the movies distributors/funders is the UK Film Council whom Thatcher’s political Party The Conservatives are to close the council in what they call a money saving policy, rather than a political statement as it was the Labour government who creatd the council.
Here’s the full press statement from Pathe:
“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.
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