Tonight, while watching The Devil Wears Prada, I was thinking what an interesting metamorphosis Meryl Streep has gone through during her long acting career. I first remember her in the supporting role in Kramer vs. Kramer, and I would have at that time expected the career that I have seen from her lately, but not after the scores of Oscar-winning roles she had in the years directly following her role as Joanna Kramer, a woman who at the time seemed to have incredible gall to leave not just her husband, but also her son, for a better life.
Streep played that role so well, I hated her. I couldn't believe she could leave that little boy behind the way she did, then expect just to walk back in his life when she was in a better place, a definite testament to her acting abilities. In a few other heavy dramas earlier, such as The Deer Hunter, she continued right on that path, doing dramatic role after dramatic role, and earning Oscar nominations in nearly every one of them, such as The French Lieutenant's Woman, Silkwood, and Out of Africa, and winning Oscars for Sophie's Choice, the latter of which I never saw, as the clip of her being forced into that fateful "choice" was just so well done, I couldn't even bare to watch the rest of the film.
Yet, after this string of heavily dramatic roles, Streep was either looking for less drama or a change of pace. The roles slowly made a change from being Oscar-notable to more fun and light, although not nearly as successful. She has voiced Bart Simpson's girlfriend and a queen ant, done a comedy with Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn, and an AIDS drama with Al Pacino. Streep did a great job as the very cold fashion magazine boss in The Devil Wears Prada, and was nominated for yet another Oscar, but as great as she was, she couldn't overtake Helen Mirren in The Queen, the same type of role Streep used to aspire to.
What's next for Streep? Yet another different direction in her career seems to be in store as we wait for the summer release of Mamma Mia!, the movie adaptation of the musical set to ABBA music. Watching her dramatic roles early in her career, who would have thought she was headed for this? And after that, she'll appear in a film about a nun, and is currently filming a movie where she stars as Julia Child.
It makes you wonder how Streep decides roles. I think she must like a good challenge.
LauraBelle
Troubled Hollywood
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