She won an Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, and stepped into the shoes of both novelist Virginia Woolf and pioneering chef Julia Child. So when it comes to finding a leading lady to play feminist icon Emmeline Pankhurst, who are you going to call? Meryl Streep, obviously.

Here are the very first shots of the star in costume for the role in upcoming British film Suffragette.

Wearing the Edwardian high collars and feathered hats of Pankhurst’s 1900s heyday, Meryl looked to be giving an impassioned speech as the political activist, who spent decades fighting for women’s right to vote.

The film also stars Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Romola Garai – how’s that for a cast list of strong females?