Meryl Streep is Maggie Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

LONDON, Tuesday 8th February 2011: 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.

Meryl Streep said; “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!”

Tessa Ross, Channel 4 controller of film and drama, said, “We’re all very excited at Film4 to be involved in The Iron Lady. Abi Morgan’s script is a wonderful and truly original portrayal of this extraordinary woman and to be working with the exceptional talents of Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent and Phyllida Lloyd amongst many others is a privilege.”

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.

Stop press >> Film4 Wins at London Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Film4-funded productions NEDS and Never Let Me Go were the big winners at this year’s London Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Claiming Best Film was the gritty, quasi-autobiographical drama NEDS, which revisits the Glasgow of director Peter Mullan’s youth. The compelling and often poignant film was led by a cast of unknown talent and has revelled in critical acclaim since its release.

Andrew Garfield’s mesmerising performances in the psychological thriller Never Let Me Go and The Social Network made him a popular winner in the Best Actor category.

Meanwhile Ben Wheatley, whose highly-anticipated new film Kill List is funded by Film4, won Best Newcomer for his direction on Down Terrace.

Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, said: “We are delighted that some of the bold and brilliant talent we have recently been working with at Film4, namely Peter Mullan, Andrew Garfield and Ben Wheatley, have all been so deservedly recognised at these awards.  We warmly congratulate them all.”

Film4’s reputation for nurturing new talent and building on its family of returning talent in the UK is now well established. Directors such as Danny Boyle, Shane Meadows, Michael Winterbottom, Andrea Arnold, Kevin Macdonald, Ken Loach, Sam Taylor-Wood and Mike Leigh have all benefited from Film4’s unflinching support of their particular vision.

Photo credit: Alex Bailey

Film 4 press enquiries to Elly Lacey at Taylor Herring PR +44 208 206 5151