Female leaders in film and TV

The upcoming movie “Game Change” and HBO series “Veep” feature women aiming for the nation’s top leadership roles. Here are a few actresses who have played female political leaders, real and fictional, over the years:

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Meryl Streep: ‘The Iron Lady’

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady.'' Streep, the queen of accents, won the Academy Award for her portrayal of Britain's tough first female prime minister.

Alex Bailey / Courtesy of Pathe Productions/The Weinstein Co.

Having portrayed a first lady in the 1993 comedy “Dave,” Sigourney Weaver will make her <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/sigourney-weaver-plays-first-lady-turned-secy-of-state-in-usa-series/2012/03/06/gIQAx1HfvR_blog.html'>debut as a TV series regular</a> in the USA network’s “Political Animals,” where she will play a divorced former first lady, who’s the current secretary of state, having recently lost the presidential nomination.

Sigourney Weaver: ‘Political Animals’

Having portrayed a first lady in the 1993 comedy “Dave,” Sigourney Weaver will make her debut as a TV series regular in the USA network’s “Political Animals,” where she will play a divorced former first lady, who’s the current secretary of state, having recently lost the presidential nomination.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Julia Louise-Dreyfus: ‘Veep’

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, best known as Elaine in "Seinfeld,'' said she got to meet a few vice presidents in preparation for her role as a senator who becomes the country's No. 2 in the coming HBO series “Veep.’ She wouldn't elaborate on which veeps she spoke with, saying she wanted to ''keep that line of communication open.''

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

Julianne Moore: ‘Game Change’

Julianne Moore plays former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the movie “Game Change,” based on the 2008 campaign book. She stars opposite Ed Harris, who portrays Sen. John McCain in the HBO movie, which debuts March 10.

Andy Kropa / Getty Images

Geena Davis: ‘Commander in Chief’

Geena Davis tackled the nation's problems for three years as president in the ABC-TV series "Commander in Chief.''

Kent Eanes / AP

Cherry Jones: ‘24’

The heart-racing TV drama ''24'' featured Cherry Jones as the nation's president from 2008 to 2010.

Kelsey McNeal / Fox

Thandie Newton: ‘W’

Thandie Newton took on the role of Condoleezza Rice in "W,'' Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic.

Sidney Ray Baldwin / Lionsgate

Ingrid Bergman: ‘A Woman Called Golda’

Swedish-born Ingrid Bergman took on the role of Golda Meir in the 1982 TV biography “A Woman Called Golda,” about the late Israeli leader.

/ AP

Amy Poehler: ‘Parks and Recreation’

"Knope We Can 2012." That's the slogan for Leslie Knope, Amy Poehler’s ambitious grass-roots official in the NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation.'' A leader? Hey, stay tuned!

Mitch Haddad / NBC

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In this image released by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Washington USA 2012, Christina Clarke; Miss West Virginia USA 2012, Andrea Rogers; and Miss Wisconsin USA 2012, Emily Guerin compete in their swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 2012 Miss USA Presentation Show on May 30, 2012 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2012 MISS USA Pageant will air LIVE on NBC June 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET from the Theatre for Performing Arts in Las Vegas. = RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe Organization / DARREN DECKER' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS =DARREN DECKER/AFP/GettyImages

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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 30: Jon Stewart attends the Sesame Street Workshop 10th Annual Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 30, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is seen in a camera on the end of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm as it moves away from the station in preparation for its return to earth in this image from NASA TV May 31, 2012. REUTERS/NASA TV (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

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Police investigate the scene where a man who was believed to have shot and killed several people earlier in the day shot himself Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. A gunman opened fire at a Seattle cafe earlier Wednesday, killing three people and critically wounding two others and later a man believed to be the same suspect shot and killed a woman and took her car near downtown, abandoning it less than two miles from where the alleged shooter shot himself as officers closed in on him, authorities said. His condition wasn't immediately known. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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LANDOVER, MD May 30, 2012 U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Fabian Johnson (23) hits a crossing pass to forward Herculez Gomez (9) for their 1st half goal against Brazil Men's National Team goalie Rafael (12) on May 30, 2012 in Landover, MD (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

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Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

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HANDOUT PHOTO: Camera men film as the Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) crew, U.S. astronaut Joseph Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin, blasts off from it's launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome, May 15, 2012. (Courtesy of Shamil Zhumatov/ADAY.org)

A snapshot of life

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