The first pictures of Meryl in costume as “Suffragette” leader Emmeline Pankhurst have been released after scenes were filmed yesterday. Parkhurst was a British political activist and leader of the suffragette movement who ultimately helped women win the right to vote. Pictures from the set can be watched in the image library, with additional information below.

Streep appeared to be shooting a scene where she spoke from a balcony, much like Pankhurst did to address the crowd of fellow women suffragettes. Writing in her novel My Own Story, she opened up about such meetings: ‘These were all publicly announced, and each time the police, mingling with crowds, made strenuous efforts to arrest me. ‘By strategy, and through the valiant efforts of the bodyguard, I was able each time to make my speech and afterwards to escape from the house. All of these occasions were marked by fierce opposition from the police and splendid courage and resistance on the part of the women.’ Emmeline spent decades fighting for women’s suffrage, only to die just a few weeks before the British Government passed the Representation Of The People Act which extended the vote to all women over 21. Meryl is only in the UK for two weeks to shoot her small role as Emmeline. The movie starts Carey Mulligan. Helena Bonham Carter, Romola Garai, Anne Marie Duff and Ben Whishaw also star in the film. The movie was written by Abi Morgan and is being directed by Sarah Gavron Suffragette is set for a January 2015 release.

Britain’s House of Commons will open its doors to a commercial film crew for the first time next month in a bid to raise cash, welcoming Meryl Streep for a movie about the suffragettes, officials said. Streep is appearing alongside Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter in the British film “Suffragette”, the fictional tale of one woman’s fight for the right to vote. Parliamentary authorities decided last year to try to boost their coffers by renting out parts of the Palace of Westminster when lawmakers are not sitting, although crews will not be allowed to film in the debating chamber. Alan Haselhurst, chairman of the Commons administration committee, said a film about the fight for women’s suffrage a century ago was a perfect way to start. “As a British film which clearly relates to parliament’s history and heritage, this is an ideal pilot for the House of Commons to identify the opportunities for location filming and income generation,” he said on Tuesday. Adrian Wootton, chief executive of the British Film Commission, commented: “Opening up such an iconic location as the House of Commons for filming is fantastic news.” Many thanks to Frank for the heads-up.

According to ScreenDaily, Meryl Streep is set to play iconic political activist Emmeline Pankhurst in Ruby Films drama “Suffragette”, which begins shooting in the UK on Monday (Feb 24). The Oscar-winning actress is in final negotiations to join the project, which will reunite the star with The Iron Lady writer Abi Morgan and financier Pathe. ScreenDaily understands that Streep will have a small but important role in the film, which will see her character give a “tour de force” speech on women’s rights during a political rally. Additional high profile casting has rounded on the project in recent weeks and will be announced in the coming days. Pathe, Film4 and the BFI are among backers on the drama, in which Carey Mulligan stars as Maude, a “foot soldier of the early feminist movement” who becomes radicalized and turns to violence as a route to change. Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane) directs “Suffragette”, producers are Ruby’s Faye Ward and Alison Owen. Executive producers are Pathe’s Cameron McCracken and Film4’s Tessa Ross and Katherine Butler, while Chris Collins is lead exec for the BFI Film Fund.