In February of 2011, Meryl Streep started filming what would be her most anticipated film role in a long time, and her most controversal one. She re-teamed with “Mamma Mia” director Phyllida Lloyd for a biopic on Margaret Thatcher called “The Iron Lady”, which takes a look at the Prime Minister during the Falklands War and her years in retirement. Streep, who sat through a session at the House of Commons to observe British MPs in action in preparation for her role, called her casting “a daunting and exciting challenge.” Former advisers, friends and family of Thatcher criticized Streep’s portrayal of her as inaccurate and biased and has been criticized by Thatcher’s children for putting the focus on her elderly years being heavily affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

The shooting of the film was heavily covered by British media, ranging from utter delight to utter hatress, depending on the newspapers’ political position. News from the filmmakers themselves came in bits and pieces, mostly quotes of Meryl’s co-stars, who praised her transformation and work ethics. Olivia Colman, who plays Carol Thatcher in the film, said, “It’s spooky, its proper spine-chilling spooky, it’s brilliant. Within moments I forgot that she was stratospherically wonderful… she’s a funny woman, who is very close to giggles at all times”. And Richard E. Grant, who plays Michael Heseltine, shared his experience of working with Meryl in a Daily Mail article. “We were doing a scene in which Mrs Thatcher walks down a corridor with a group of ministers. Between shots, Meryl, still suited and bewigged as Mrs T, sang the Abba hits. It was so incongruous and hilarious and it sums up her humour and sense of mischief. It’s naff to say it, but Meryl makes you feel better about yourself. As an actress, she’s the best of the best. But she’s also unbelievably down-to-earth. She knew everyone on the set by name. She’s appreciative of what other actors do. She has no entourage. It’s like working with a British theatre actress: very unexpected and disarming in someone who has 16 Oscar nominations and two Academy Awards in the bag”.

British distributor Pathé released a first promotional picture of Meryl in costume in February 2011, which, if this term existed already in 2011, went viral. American distributor TWC – famous then and infamous now for their marketing strategies – kept the film under wraps until the last moment and released it December 30 in New York City to qualifies for awards season. “The Iron Lady” received mixed reviews for its botched execution and Lloyd’s rather odd, operatic direction. But despite the criticism, Streep’s performance in the title role garnered much critical acclaim and awards. The film’s release was heavily promoted in the United States and United Kingdom, and made a whopping $115 million in ticket revenues. On December 27, 2011, Meryl Streep was among the honorees of the 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, marking the start of a very extensive, very successful awards run in 2012.