Background

The Iron Lady was written by Abi Morgan and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who previously directed Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia! Critics have been universal in their acclaim for Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher, several of them suggesting that it is her finest performance in an already immensely impressive career. Xan Brooks, for example, writes in The Guardian that it is ‘astonishing and all but flawless’. [1] Streep was rewarded with a slew of awards, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, and many more nominations.

The film inevitably aroused strong feelings in the UK, where memories of the Thatcher era are still relatively fresh. Meryl Streep reflects:

I think that she stirs very strong feelings, even today, 20 years after leaving power, and she remains divisive. The film will enter a landscape of a world where she continues to cause controversy.... Even though you might not agree with the politics, just the fact of her determination, her stamina, her courage to take it on – I think anybody that stands up and is willing to be a leader who is prepared as she was and as smart as she was, it’s admirable on a certain level because you really sacrifice a great deal. [2]

While Streep was praised, reactions to the film as a whole were more mixed. Former Conservative Party colleagues claim that it misrepresents her, and that it is inappropriate to depict Margaret Thatcher in failing health while she is still alive. Screenwriter Abi Morgan says,

I read a fascinating article by her daughter where she talked about the moment when she realised her mother was suffering from dementia and I felt that as soon as that came out into the public domain, I felt that I really wanted to write about it. I really wanted to write something that would reflect that.... I have dementia in my own family so I recognised that as an experience and I’d observed it but I do think it’s more of a universal story. I don’t think it’s a political film. I think it’s about the study of power and the isolation of power, but that’s also set against the isolation of old age and in particular, the isolation of dementia, in a way. And this is a film really about a character, Margaret Thatcher, who the past sort of attacks her and takes her hostage in a way. [3]

[1] Xan Brooks, ‘The Iron Lady: first screening’, The Guardian, 14 November 2011.

[2] Meryl Streep, interview on TheCinemaSource.com, 17 January 2012.

[3] Heather Warburton, ‘ Screenwriter Abi Morgan The Iron Lady Interview ’, Collider.com, 29 December 2011.

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