Original costumes worn by Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady on display...

Meryl Streep seems to have developed quite a knack for playing iconic women from history, be it america's culinary legend Julia Child in Julie & Julia, or Britain's first and only female Prime Minister 'Margaret Thatcher' in 2011's The Iron Lady.

Actual costumes worn by Meryl Streep as 

Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady

The London Film Museum recently had a special 'Best of British' homage exhibit to the biopic and showcased a fantastic array of costumes designed by Consolata Boyle and original props featured in the movie. I had a chance to photograph these costumes on May 15, 2012.

The Iron Lady costume exhibit at The London Film Museum

You can't help but feel these fabulous recreations of the iconic Prime Minister's wardrobe, along with amazing aging special effects make-up, helped Meryl Streep transform herself into this legendary world leader and deliver an Oscar-winning performance in the film.

1974 House of Commons debate costume worn by Meryl Streep

This blue/white fleck jacket suit bound in dark blue silk, paired with a powder blue felt hat, was worn by a younger, less experienced Margaret Thatcher for a 1974 House of Commons debate.

Margaret Thatcher campaign costume worn by Meryl Streep

This is one of Margaret Thatcher's trademark blue suits, and pearls, on the Conservative Party election trail that Meryl Streep wears in the movie.

1984 Brighton Conservative Party Conference suit worn by Meryl Streep

Blue is the colour of the Conservatives in Britain so it's no surprise that Margaret Thatcher wore a symbolic navy wool suit to the Conservative Party Conference in 1984.

The Iron Lady movie poster

Outfits worn by Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher 

for 1989 Cabinet Room meetings at Downing Street

Margaret Thatcher was known for being a formidable politician and Meryl Streep wore these 'power suits' for scenes in Cabinet Room meetings at 10 Downing Street in 1989.

1990 Downing Street resignation outfit 

worn by Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

The actress wore this deep red wool 'power suit', with maroon velvet collar, when Margaret Thatcher resigns her position as Prime Minster and leader of the Conservative Party in 1990 and exits 10 Downing Street.

If you like these outfits, be sure to check out the gowns worn by Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady, plus original props from the movie too.

The Iron Lady movie poster

Original movie props from The Iron Lady on display...

In addition to all the wonderful costumes that helped transform Meryl Streep into Britain's iconic first and only female Prime Minister, there was also a fantastic selection of original props from 2011's The Iron Lady on display at the London Film Museum on May 15, 2012.

Original props featured in The Iron Lady

This collection of Margaret Thatcher's handbag (and contents), Conservative Party Conference ribbons, name tags and badges, plus newspaper props always reminds me of much effort and detail goes into creating the movie world we see on the big screen.

The Iron Lady movie poster

Margaret Thatcher memoirs book prop

We see Meryl Streep as 'Margaret Thatcher' signing copies of this memoir in the present day at the start of the movie.

Young Margaret election poster props

Before she was married to Denis Thatcher, she campaigned as Margaret Roberts as shown in these Parliamentary election posters from the movie.

House of Commons Lady Members sign prop

This 'Lady Members' sign had a funny part in the movie when Meryl Streep opens the door in the House of Commons to find a symbolic ironing board within.

Geoffrey Howe resignation letter prop

Also on display in the prop exhibit was a copy of Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Howe's resignation to Margaret Thatcher from the movie.

If you're a fan of this political biopic, be sure to also check out these original costumes worn by Meryl Streep and Alexandra Roach in The Iron Lady.

The Iron Lady movie poster

Gowns worn by Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady...

In 2011's The Iron Lady it wasn't just Meryl Streep's Oscar-winning performance that help convince you she was the first British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, it was also the amazing special effects make-up and historically accurate costumes that help transformed the actress into the iconic politician.

Exhibit of original costumes worn by Meryl Streep 

as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady

Here are some of the wonderful dresses worn by Meryl Streep as 'Margaret Thatcher' during her time as leader of the British Government.

The Iron Lady movie poster

These special occasion outfits used for official functions were designed by Consolata Boyle and photographed on display at the London Film Museum on May 15, 2012.

1980 Lord Mayor's Dinner gown worn by Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep wears this blue dress in the movie when Margaret Thatcher is at Downing Street preparing to go to the Lord Mayor's Dinner with 'Geoffrey Howe'. The information provided with the exhibit describes the gown as follows: 'Dark blue satin backed silk dress, Over dress, black silk tulle, embroidered with over pattern in blue silk thread, beading and sequins'.

1982 White House Ballroom gown worn by Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady 

The actress wears this dress when dancing with 'President Ronald Reagan' in the White House Ballroom in Washington, D.C. in 1982. The gown is described as: 'Cerise pink, crepe satin dress. shaped over piece, ombre dyed, pink lavender/blue, silk chiffon. Decorated with Swarovski Crystals'.

1990 Lord Mayor's Dinner dress worn by Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

This black silk/wool evening suit, which was almost impossible to photograph with the lighting and reflective display case, was worn by Margaret Thatcher at the 1990 Lord Mayor's Dinner in London.

If you like these original costumes worn by Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in her prime, be sure to also check out the outfits worn by Alexandra Roach as a Young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

And if you're a fan of the actress, be sure to check out Meryl Streep's Julia Child costume in Julie and Julia and her ABBA-esque dance finale costume from Mamma Mia: The Movie.

The Iron Lady movie poster