23 JULY 2004

There has always been a close relationship between the power-players of politics and Hollywood's heavy-hitters. And this was never more apparent than on Thursday night, when Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington launched their new thriller The Manchurian Candidate in Los Angeles.

In the movie Denzel plays a Gulf War veteran who finds himself at the centre of a potential political scandal. Three-time Oscar-winner Meryl Streep meanwhile plays the ruthless senator who will stop at nothing to conceal the truth. And the renowned actress has revealed that she based her character on a rather well-known British leading lady.

In recent weeks the American press has been awash with reports that Hillary Clinton was the inspiration for the implacable politician. But Meryl has explained that she actually studied Mrs Thatcher to prepare for the film. "I thought of Margaret," said the actress. "And your mother – and any woman you're terrified of!"

Both she and Denzel have been roundly applauded for their performances in the flick, which is a remake of the 1962 classic starring Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh. Old Blue Eyes' daughter Nancy Sinatra also went along to the premiere, along with Tinseltown beauties Jodie Foster and Winona Ryder.