Meryl Streep is headed back to British shores to start shooting a film about singer Florence Foster Jenkins.

The Oscar-winning actress is tuning up to play the vocally-challenged New York heiress and socialite, who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming an opera singer despite her awful voice.

Hugh Grant will portray aristocratic English actor, Florence’s husband and manager St Clair Bayfield, who was determined to protect his wife from the truth about her vocals.

Hugh Grant (Gareth Fuller/PA)
Hugh Grant (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The Big Bang Theory’s Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson and Nina Arianda will also star in Florence Foster Jenkins, which has started production and will shoot for 10 weeks.

The Queen and Philomena filmmaker Stephen Frears will direct the movie, which has been written by Nicholas Martin.

“I think the script is terrific. God knows the cast are sensational. Now is the time to panic!” the director joked.

Maureen Lipman as Florence Foster Jenkins (Robert Day/PA)
Maureen Lipman as Florence Foster Jenkins (Robert Day/PA)

Maureen Lipman and Broadway star Judy Kaye have previously played the role in theatre productions of Florence’s story.

Meryl’s previous films such as Into The Woods, Suffragette and The Iron Lady were shot in the UK.