Carey Mulligan as Hillary Clinton? Star Top Pick to Play Former Secretary of State in Biopic: Report

British actress is in talks to take on the role of the iconic politician

By Josh Grossberg Jun 06, 2013 8:20 PMTags
Hillary Clinton, Carey MulliganAP Photo; Lisa Maree Williams

Carey Mulligan could be breaking the glass ceiling on the big screen.

The Great Gatsby star is the frontrunner to play Hillary Rodham Clinton in the buzzed-about biopic, Rodham, about the former Secretary of State's early years.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the 28-year-old Mulligan is producers' top choice for the drama which will chronicle Clinton's time as a young lawyer during the Watergate scandal when she worked on the House Judiciary Committee's effort to impeach President Richard Nixon.

At the same time she's juggling unresolved feelings for boyfriend (and future President) Bill Clinton and his desire to decamp to Arkansas.

Other actresses supposedly under consideration include Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Chastain and Emma Stone while The Wrap reported that Jennifer Lawrence was hot on producers' wish list. Rodham was written by newcomer Young Il Kim and is being directed by indie helmer James Ponsoldt.

But if Meryl Streep can play Britain's late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, it stands to reason the British thesp shouldn't have any trouble as America's first lady-turned-presidential contender.