The Iron Lady: Hollywood touches up Margaret Thatcher

A trailer for one of the most anticipated biopics of recent times has piqued interest on both sides of the Atlantic. The Iron Lady, a movie treatment of the life of Margaret Thatcher promises both entertainment and controversy.

Played by Academy Award winner Meryl Streep and seconded by another Academy Award winner, Jim Broadbent, the Margaret Thatcher depicted would appear to be more multi-layered than the real Iron Lady was known during her term as one of the most respected and most reviled Prime Ministers in British history.

Having an American play a signal British character as is Margaret Thatcher was bound to piqued national price in Britain, but of the stable of instantly recognizable Hollywood stars, Streep is a brilliant choice.

The Iron Lady, to be released in January 2012, promises to be not only an event for moviegoers but also in the body politic as the U.S. faces a presidential election and the choice of leaders. It was Maggie Thatcher who told Ronald Reagan, during the Falklands/Malvinas crisis, not to go 'wobbly' on the historically close ties between America and Britain. It may take another steely lady, Angela Merkel of Germany, to lead the way once again in the mettle and acumen so sorely lacking in the EU and Washington.