Director Phyllida Lloyd Knows Strong British Women

Barstow as Elizabeth I
(Photo: Stephen Vaughan)

Director Phyllida Lloyd is best-known worldwide for her work on the film version of the Broadway hit Mamma Mia! In 2000 she directed a project with a bit more gravitas, Benjamin Britten's operatic history of Elizabeth I titled Gloriana. The project was done for BBC television with a cast that included Josephine Barstow, Tom Randle, David Ellis, Susannah Glanville, Emer McGilloway under conductor Paul Daniel. The director's current project will take on another female figure that holds a strong place in English

Streep as Thatcher
(Photo: Alex Bailey)

history, Margaret Thatcher. The film, The Iron Lady, is currently filming with a UK release date set for late 2011. A press release describes the plot as, "A look at the actions taken by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the days leading up to the Falklands War in 1982." It will reunite Ms. Lydia with the star of her mega-hit musical Meryl Streep who plays the  former Prime Minister. [Source]

More pictures from Gloriana after the jump.