Actress: Meryl Streep on the cover of 'Vogue'

Shot by Annie Leibovitz (of course), America's foremost actress graces the cover of the January 2012 issue of Vogue to promote her latest incarnation as the ever controversial Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. At age 62, Streep is the oldest cover model in the magazine's history. She appears serene, wearing casual designs by designers like Michael Kors and Carolina Herrera. It is a welcome change of pace for the magazine to have a mature woman of substance and accomplishment, rather than a starlet, appear on the cover. Click here to read the interview and see the rest of the shoot. Videos from some of Streep's most memorable roles after the jump.

No really, how does she do it? SJP for Vogue's annual 'Age Issue'

In Burberry Prorsum

"I love the opportunity to wear something really special and go to a wonderful event at some great cultural institution....Not to sound too Pollyanna about it, but I really didn't imagine when I was a little girl that I would be there to see it all myself."

-SJP on wearing archival Alexander McQueen to the Met Gala

Sarah Jessica Parker may be in her forties, but she still has all the girlish energy and ambition to run a small fashion empire (her fragrances), a production company (Pretty Matches, which produced Bravo's Work of Art), still be a leading lady (starring in the upcoming romantic comedy I Don't Know How She Does It), and maintain, even enlarge, a loving family.

That family appears with her in Vogue (previewed below), photographed by Mario Testino. It is suffice to say they look adorable as SJ plays sophisticated mother of the year in Bottega Venata, Chanel, Proenza Schouler, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta.

In Marc Jacobs, with her adorable twin daughters.

She the rest of the spread here, and read her interview here.