Several actors have signed on to star alongside Meryl Streep in the upcoming Margaret Thatcher biopic ‘The Iron Lady,’ including Jim Broadbent and Anthony Head, Slashfilm.com is reporting. The movie, which is reuniting Streep with her ‘Mamma Mia!’ director Phyllida Lloyd, will feature Broadbent as Thatcher’s husband Denis, while Broadbent will portray Cabinet minister Geoffrey Howe.

The stars of ‘The Iron Lady’ are currently in rehearsals, and production is expected to begin next month. Streep is currently meeting with people in London who knew Thatcher to prepare for her portrayal. While the film reportedly won’t be an impersonation of the former British Prime Minister, and will instead be a portrait of her life, Streep has also been practicing her speech patterns.

There currently isn’t a set release date for ‘The Iron Lady.’ However, it’s expected to be released by the end of the year, so that Streep and the movie can be considered for awards in 2012.

Written by: Karen Benardello