Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher On "Newsweek"

Meryl Streep takes the cover of Newsweek's latest issue, on newsstands this week. The 62-year-old actress, who posed as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, will hit the big screen in The Iron Lady on January 13. The magazine's headline, Maggie's Moment - Why She's More Important Than Ever, suggests that this new film could well promote the former British Prime Minister to pop culture icon. It's doing much for Streep's already glittering reputation, which is interesting as she admitted recently that she disagreed with Thatcher's politics.  Streep won for her acclaimed portrait of Britain's first female Prime Minister in the film “The Iron Lady” in which the star plays Baroness Thatcher as she is now, an old lady suffering from dementia, looking back over her career. The prize from the New York Critics Circle is a strong indicator of possible Oscar glory. Streep becomes the front runner for the best actress Oscar, which will be revealed in Los Angeles on February 26. Talking about The Iron Lady, Streep declared herself to be 'in awe' of Thatcher, adding that 'it was a privilege to look at a life deeply with empathy' even though she did not share Thatcher's political beliefs. However, Streep told the Daily Mail: “I feel she believed in her policies and that they came from an honest conviction and that she wasn't a cosmetic politician just changing make-up to suit the times”.