July 1994 By Philip Berk
The name Meryl Streep is synonymous with great acting — possibly the greatest actor the screen has ever known.
But what few realize is she’s also the most maternal and caring artist ever to wear the mantle of greatness.
Who else but Meryl would have been willing to sacrifice a promising career for an ailing lover, but that essentially is what she did.
Despite all the acclaim she was getting at the time for her work in The Deer Hunter, she put her career on hold for almost a year to nurse actor John Cazale until he died of cancer in l978.
The first time I interviewed her was in l983 for Silkwood; she had skipped doing press for her earlier films because she felt her children were more important than studio junkets, and films like Out of Africa and Sophie’s Choice didn’t need any promoting.
Silkwood because of an early negative review (in Time magazine) needed all the help it could get.
At the time I wrote, “Meryl Streep is to acting what the egg is to design: perfection. Only time will tell whether she is truly the greatest actress of the screen. Her performances in Sophie’s Choice and French Lieutenant’s Woman point her in that direction, but there was a time when even an estimable critic like John Simon had named Jane Fonda, “the best actress since sound.”
Four years later another controversial film — A Cry in the Dark — needed her help and she was there. I marveled at how she listened, how she clarified, how she measured her responses to every question.
How does she manage to do it all — wife, mother, and actress, I asked her.
“Everyday you give up something. In the middle of the night, when I’m breastfeeding, I dream and think about things. During the day it’s a matter of fitting moments in, trying to parcel out a piece of time for everybody and everything. It’ll be more than a year before I go to work again — a lot of people tell me that’s dangerous, but frankly I don’t give a damn. I want a family so that’s what I do. You try to do as much as you can to make things good.”
True to her promise for the next five years she worked infrequently making some questionable choices (such as She-Devil and Death Becomes Her.)
But then in 1994 she made a comeback of sorts in The River Wild.
“People are saying this is an action film and I would say, no, it has a lot about family and relationships, the strength of marital bonds, trust in love, and all sorts of other things. But then I went to a screening and I heard the response of the audience, and I thought, ‘Yeah, it is an action-adventure movie. I’m thrilled with it especially because my children love it.”
At that junket she didn’t mind answering questions about her children. Not only do they not listen to her, she told us, they’re not very impressed with her body of work, and, worse yet, they’re not well behaved.
“I have very loud children; in airports people say, ‘Look at Meryl Streep’s children, you know, they’re misbehaving.’ But I feel they’re big, and I want them to be big, I want them to be brave and happy and unafraid of whatever comes their way.
“Going home every evening is a very humbling experience. My family don’t think of me as very much at all. My children can barely listen to anything I have to say. I love to come to a junket where everybody listens. It’s your dream.”
Aren’t they impressed with her acting?
“Deer Hunter is the one film that my son has watched because he’s interested in it, but most of them they have no interest in watching. I always try to take them back to the scenes of my youthful glory. I take them to the the theatre in New York. I say, ‘And this was my dressing-room at Lincoln Center, and this…,’ but they’re so bored. My next movie is The Bridges of Madison County, which is about children being of an age where it’s time to discover a new thing about their mother. That kind of curiosity has to be self-propelled; you can’t take them and say, ‘Be interested in me.’ They have to discover it for themselves.”
How old are the children?
“Henry is fourteen, Mamie is eleven, Grace is eight, and Louisa is three.”
Obviously she gets more respect from her husband? (Donald Gummer, a sculptor)
“It’s difficult for me to talk about him because he hates me to talk about him in this setting. He’s very private and a wonderful man, and he doesn’t want publicity of that kind.”
When not working, what does she like to do?
“Sleep. On this film we were shooting six days a week and Sunday I spent with the baby. I didn’t really leave my house on the day off. It was a very exhausting experience, but I was grateful because that kind of physical exhaustion enabled me to sleep profoundly. But I think every mother would say the same.”
At the time she was Andrew Lloyd Weber’s first choice to play Norma Desmond in the musical version of Sunset Boulevard, a role that eventually went to Glenn Close. During the Los Angeles tryout when it was widely reported that she had seen Glenn’s performance three times, I asked her if she was considering doing the role on Broadway?
Her quick reply was, “Not at all. I was giving Glenn notes, telling her how to do it.”
The two had been friends for years.
Would she consider taking over the role when it opens on Broadway?
“Never. I’ve had so many opportunities to do theatre, but I can’t do it now because my children are too small; they want me home at night and on the weekends. When you’re in the theatre, you’re gone from 6 p.m. to midnight, so it’s out.”
For the same reason she would never direct a film
“There’s not enough money for the amount of work they do. They never leave the set. They can’t come home like I can and just forget it. I don’t know how I could do that and have a life with four children. I don’t bring the part home. When I come home, I want to forget it.”
Was it always her dream to become an actress?
“I never anticipated it. I was not from a theatrical family. My dad worked for a pharmaceutical company, and my mother was a housewife. I was in a play, and my friends told me I was good at it. But I didn’t think it was the way you go through life. It seemed frivolous, a silly way to make a living. Then I went to drama school, became more involved, and got very serious. I was soon hooked. Acting has never been agony for me. I don’t understand people for whom it is because I feel we are very privileged to be actors.”
Does she still consider it frivolous?
“I spent a long time thinking it was. It wasn’t worth anything to the world at large, but I was once invited to a dinner in Washington D.C. on the Arts, and Nixon’s chief of staff Alexander Haig, an unlikely choice of speaker, got up and said, ‘Nobody remembers the armies that anybody had raised or the bridges or railways they built. Times are remembered for their artists.’ And I believe that, too.”
Was fame ever a spur?
“When you start in the theatre, it doesn’t really seem like you’ll ever get famous. I mean, I was so familiar with that unemployment line on Lower Manhattan, and then to be plucked from the theatre and cast in Julia (she played a small role in the Jane Fonda-Vanessa Redgrave movie) it was really like Never-Never Land. It was a quantum leap, from making Broadway minimum, $235 a week, to $2000. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Since The River Wild, she’s promoted every one of her films including The Bridges of Madison County (with Clint Eastwood), Marvin’s Room (with Leonardo Di Caprio), One True Thing (with Renee Zellweger), and even a potboiler like Music of the Heart.
And in the process, we’ve watched her children grow.
They continued to ignore her films, but then when her son turned seventeen, he discovered Sophie’s Choice.
“He saw it,” she told me, “not on a degraded videotape, but on a big screen in Prague. I was so happy to give him that because my kids don’t have a real sense of what I do. They know that a big car comes and picks me up, and people recognize me in public places, but that’s really it. They don’t understand exactly what it is I do. So I was thrilled to show him something I was proud of, and he loved it. He was very moved, although his response was, ‘Man, that’s a sad movie. Whoa!”
Is she prepared for the empty nest syndrome?
“I’m never going to be finished with parenting because I had my children whenever I could fit them in between films, so they’re spread over a long distance. I have a five year kid and a seventeen year old, and two in between, so it’s going to be a long time before I can think about that.”
How important is family?
“I depend on my family a great deal for a centredness and a feeling of where I am in my life — my husband, my children, my mother and my father. Thank the Lord they’re alive and still opinionated about what I should and shouldn’t do. I’m the oldest child in my family, I have two younger brothers. I don’t have a sister. I’m the responsible one. I’m the good one who takes care of my parents and remembers their birthdays. My brothers do not, their wives are expected to do that, but they’re very good sons.”
How does she deal with adversity?
“I try to fix it. I’m the mom, although there’s a part of me that sometimes wants to just run the other way.”
And when does she find time to take care of herself?
“On this junket when I have this bed all to myself. That’s why I love going to hotels.”
That junket (for Marvin’s Room) was held in Houston, Texas.
Otherwise?
“I’m never alone, never never, even in the bathroom. I always have a companion. Someone’s in there bothering me. It’s hard to find moments for being alone. And when I’m working there’s always someone with me, and at night when I’m on location and I can’t fly home, it takes a long time on the telephone getting all of them off to bed.”
Would she want it any other way?
“We have to realize there are things we cannot have. It’s probably good for me because almost every dream I’ve had has come true. If I can’t do a thing that I love (like acting in the theatre) because of something I love more (my children) I accept it. Sometimes it’s a hard thing. Maybe someday I’ll totter out on stage, but it would mean changing our lives and moving into the city — which none of us wants to do right now.”
How domesticated is she? Does she do her own cooking?
“I have a cook two days a week. The rest of the time I cook dinner. I try to get everybody home, but my son is at school till late so he doesn’t make it. The three girls and my husband usually have supper together. I’m very bad, but I honestly try to be a good cook, although when I’m working, I have someone cooking for me.”
Did she enjoy returning to the theatre (during the summer vacation)?
“I did, but I did it only as a favor to Wendy Wasserstein. We did her play as a workshop in Seattle, and I warned her in advance: I would under no circumstances carry it through to a theatrical run. I hadn’t been on stage in seventeen years. I was really scared, but it was intoxicating, and it was great.”
Could she change her mind?
“I just can’t do it. I’d be at the theatre every night when my children are home, and when I’m home they’d be at school. I wouldn’t see them for six months. I have to be there to crack the whip.”
Does she ever watch her old movies and which is her favorite?
“I don’t have one. I have some that I like less than others, but I don’t have a favorite. When I watch them, I sit on the edge of my seat because I forget what happens. I don’t remember the plots. I have a very bad memory. I have a good short term memory; long term not so good. I’m not just saying that. This really happens. I think it’s part of just being so subjectively involved in the shooting and the story that the whole of it doesn’t imprint on me. I have memories of individual spaces within the shoot, emotional moments, but I don’t remember the plot line and the direction that it takes.”
Didn’t she, at one time, have a photographic memory?
“Well I used to. That was the old days.”
How does she feel about getting older?
“I feel lucky to be alive. I’ve lost so many friends. I just think anybody who isn’t grateful for this gift we’re given, is nuts.”
At our next encounter, she was approaching fifty, and I was reminded what Mike Nichols had once said, ‘My wish is that Meryl will one day be 90 years old acting in a great role written for a 19 year old woman.”
Does she ever think about retiring, say at age sixty?
“Oh, no, that’s when all the kids will be out of the house, and it won’t be tiring at all to work. I’d like to keep working forever. Why not? I mean it’s a question of stamina. My great role model is John Gielgud. I worked with him in Plenty, and I was just ravished by his freshness in his
I’m extremely inspired together with your writing skills and also with
the layout in your weblog. Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it your self?
Either way stay up the nice quality writing, it is rare to
see a great weblog like this one nowadays..
You actually make it seem really easy along with your presentation but I in finding this matter to be really one thing that I feel I would never understand.
It sort of feels too complicated and extremely large for me.
I am having a look forward to your subsequent post, I’ll
try to get the dangle of it!
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a
amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
However, how could we communicate?
Here is my page :: MetaboFix Review
Greetings! This is my first comment here so I just wanted
to give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoy reading through your blog posts.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects?
Thanks a ton!
Check out my page … https://w123ce.ru/
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective.
A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appeal.
I must say that you’ve done a very good
job with this. Additionally, the blog loads very quick for me on Firefox.
Excellent Blog!
Undeniably believe that that you said. Your favourite justification appeared to be on the net
the easiest thing to understand of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider issues that
they just do not recognize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and outlined out the entire thing
without having side-effects , folks could take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thank you
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently.
I am quite sure I will learn plenty of new stuff right
here! Best of luck for the next!
I will immediately clutch your rss feed as I can not find your
e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
Do you have any? Please let me realize so that I may subscribe.
Thanks.
Hi there colleagues, fastidious paragraph and fastidious arguments commented
at this place, I am really enjoying by these.
Heya this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to
manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding
know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience.
Any help would be enormously appreciated!
It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before finish
I am reading this fantastic article to improve my knowledge.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
I always used to study post in news papers but
now as I am a user of net thus from now I am using net for articles,
thanks to web.
For the reason that the admin of this web page is working, no
uncertainty very rapidly it will be famous, due to its quality
contents.
my web-site: SoloVolt Review
This info is priceless. Where can I find out more?
Take a look at my web page :: joker388 bonus
Thanks very interesting blog!
My page – rollex11 game list
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog
owners wrote but this internet site is real user pleasant!
My blog post Sienna
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website.
I am hoping to check out the same high-grade content by you in the future as well.
In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to
get my own, personal site now 😉
Here is my website; http://shihan.com.ru
I needed to thank you for this great read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of
it. I have got you book marked to check out new things you post…
Also visit my web site – Alpha Extracts Review
This is really fascinating, You are an overly skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look ahead to seeking more of your excellent post.
Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
My blog; https://algarhard.pt/
If some one wants to be updated with hottest technologies afterward he
must be visit this web site and be up to date everyday.
you are in reality a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing.
It seems that you’re doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece.
you’ve done a excellent process in this subject!
my web page … Max Brute
Hi there, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am
as well delighted to share my familiarity here with colleagues.
Feel free to visit my homepage: Juliann
First of all I would like to say great blog! I had a quick question which I’d like
to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to
writing. I’ve had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out there.
I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just
seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually wasted
simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?
Thank you!
Feel free to surf to my homepage :: KetoRedux
It’s very straightforward to find out any matter
on web as compared to textbooks, as I found this piece of writing at this site.
My web blog :: DivineDynamic Keto
I was just looking for this information for some
time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got
it in your web site. I wonder what is the lack
of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative sites in top of the list.
Usually the top sites are full of garbage.
Feel free to surf to my homepage: http://www.fotosombra.com.br
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of house .
Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site.
Studying this information So i am happy to show that I have
an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered
exactly what I needed. I such a lot unquestionably will make sure to don?t overlook this web site and provides it a glance
regularly.
My homepage … Keto Redux Review
I’ve been surfing online greater than three hours these days,
but I by no means found any fascinating article like yours.
It is pretty worth sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent
content as you did, the net can be a lot more useful than ever before.
This post presents clear idea in support of the new people of blogging, that
genuinely how to do blogging and site-building.
Feel free to visit my blog :: Slimingo Keto Review
Great post, I think website owners should larn a lot from this web blog its real user pleasant.
So much fantastic information on here :D.
My site: Pure Optimum Keto Burn
I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website.
I am hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well.
In truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to
get my very own blog now 😉
Also visit my website: Alpha Extracts
I am glad to be a visitor of this consummate blog, regards for this rare info!
My website; http://www.hotelforrest.ru/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=LowellPhillip
Good ? I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your web site.
I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to
do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all.
Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for
those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your
client to communicate. Excellent task.
Review my webpage: Solvolt Review
Hey very nice blog!
Here is my web-site – http://lulle.sakura.ne.jp/
I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit
the nail on the head. The problem is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about.
I’m very happy I stumbled across this during my search for something regarding
this.
My web blog Dann
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to check it
out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting
this to my followers! Fantastic blog and brilliant style and design.
my web blog; Total Pure CBD Reviews
I rarely leave a response, however i did a few searching and wound up here Meryl Streep – Hollywood’s Mother of the Year – Philip Berk.
And I do have some questions for you if you tend not to mind.
Is it just me or does it seem like some of these comments appear like left by brain dead people?
😛 And, if you are posting at other online sites, I would like to keep up with anything new you have to post.
Would you list of the complete urls of all your community sites
like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?
my page … Solvolt
Hey! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs!
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Keep up the outstanding work!
Terrific article! That is the kind of info that are meant to be
shared around the internet. Disgrace on Google for now not positioning this put up upper!
Come on over and visit my site . Thank you =)
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your post seem
to be running off the screen in Ie. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something
to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
The design look great though! Hope you get the
problem resolved soon. Many thanks
Also visit my website: Luca
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you
might be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and may come back later in life.
I want to encourage yourself to continue your great writing,
have a nice morning!
As a Newbie, I am continuously searching online for articles
that can help me. Thank you
I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this info for my mission.
Generally I do not read article on blogs, but I wish to
say that this write-up very pressured me to try and do it!
Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite great
article.
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found
that it’s really informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels.
I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future.
Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I’m more than happy to find this page. I need to to thank you for your time for this fantastic
read!! I definitely liked every little bit of it and I have you saved as a favorite to look at
new information in your blog.
Simply wanna comment on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the content is really good :
D.
Hello, just wanted to tell you, I enjoyed this article.
It was practical. Keep on posting!
I am in fact delighted to glance at this blog posts which includes
tons of useful information, thanks for providing these information.
Hi there, I wish for to subscribe for this web site to get most recent updates, so where can i do it please help.
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write on my site something like that.
Can I take a portion of your post to my blog?
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality sites on the
internet. I will recommend this website!
Some genuinely superb information, Gladiola I found this.
Every weekend i used to go to see this website, because i want
enjoyment, for the reason that this this website conations actually
nice funny data too.