The press is already praising Meryl Streep's performance as the former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the soon-to-be-released biopic The Iron Lady. Here are five other memorable screen portrayals of political figures.
Take Five... Gandhi (1982)
Ben Kingsley's performance as Mohandas Gandhi is still regarded as the benchmark for this kind of role. Kingsley picked up Oscar, Bafta and Golden Globe awards.
Take Four… Team America: World Police (2004)
Kim Jong Il's persona being clouded in secrecy didn't stop the South Park creator Trey Parker from mercilessly skewering the North Korean dictator (along with Tony Blair). While there has been no official response from North Korea, the country did reportedly ask the Czech Republic to ban the movie.
Take Three… The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Forest Whitaker is positively chilling as the unhinged Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, a malevolent tyrant portrayed as charismatic, witty and ruthless. Whitaker deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar.
Take Two… Elizabeth (1998)
Cate Blanchett delivers a tense performance as England's Elizabeth I, from young woman to a ruthless, cunning monarch.
Take One… Mandela and de Klerk (1977)
Morgan Freeman gave a distinguished performance as Nelson Mandela in 2009's Invictus. But Sidney Poitier does it better in this made-for-television drama, delivering one of his best performance and giving the South African statesman an added grit and savviness missing from Invictus.
