Meryl Streep on the Set of “Suffragette” as Emmeline Pankhurst

Meryl at work. There should be little road signs. “SLOW. MERYL AT WORK. RESPECT.”

PinFirst images of actress Meryl Streep playing Emmeline Pankhurst in “Suffragette” filming in London. Pankhurst (1858 – 1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British Suffragette movement.

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This is really great casting, but we’re starting to think Meryl should take a little break. She doesn’t have to play EVERY part available to an actress over 50. Helen Mirren would have been great casting too, as would any number of English actresses of a certain age. Of course, this is more of a failure of imagination on the industry’s part, rather than anything we can blame Meryl for. It’s not her fault casting directors go straight for her. It’s not like a working actress (especially one in an age range that gets fewer and fewer offers) should turn down work so some other actress can get a shot at it.

Having said that, she looks really great. Not “great” in the stylish or pretty sense, but in the “totally inhabits the time and place” sense. She looks like a suffragette and more specifically, she looks a great deal like the real Emmeline Pankhurst. Early 20th Century women’s styles of the Edwardian era were so heavy and layered and not particularly pretty to our eyes, but one thing the clothes had going for them was the beautiful detailing, which ran the gamut from delicate (the lace lapels) to bold (the scalloped design and massive sleeves on the coat).

[Photo Credit: FameFlynetUK/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES]

• Costumes
• Meryl Streep
• On Set