Iron Lady Streep strides red carpet in London One of Hollywood's blue-bloods, Meryl Streep, got the red carpet treatment as her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher made its European premiere in London. The Iron Lady has generated praise, criticism and controversy in equal measure and Streep admitted playing the former British prime minister was a challenge. Speaking about the role she said: "In the UK, there are such opinions about her, pro and con, and I just wanted to locate the human being inside those caricatures that we've seen for so many years and to investigate for myself what it must have been like for her." The film charts the rise and fall of one the UK's most divisive political figures. While the film's won glowing reviews, some feel it's timing is inappropriate. Lord Heseltine, a one-time Thatcher cabinet minister who went on to challenge her for the Conservative party leadership said: "I just think that to take a story line based upon the declining years of a notable public figure during her lifetime is distateful." Streep has been tipped to win a third Oscar for her performance. More about: British politics, Cinema, Historical drama, History, London