Streep: A Life in Film

Considered by many movie reviewers to be the greatest living actress, Meryl Streep has been nominated for the Academy Award an astonishing 14 times, and has won it twice. Yet there has been no biography of her since 1985. Born Mary Louise Streep in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, Meryl's early performing ambitions leaned toward the opera. She became interested in acting while a student at Vassar and upon graduation she enrolled in the Yale School of Drama. She gave an outstanding performance in her first film role, "Julia" (1977), and the next year she was nominated for her first Oscar for her role in "The Deer Hunter" (1978). She went on to win the Academy Award for her performances in "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979) and "Sophie's Choice" (1982), in which she gave a heart-wrenching portrayal of an inmate mother in a Nazi death camp. A perfectionist in her craft and meticulous and painstaking in her preparation for her roles, Meryl turned out a string of highly acclaimed performances. Her latest role is Donna in the film version of the ABBA musical "Mamma Mia!" For this role she won the award of Best Female Performance at the National Movie Awards (UK), and has since received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical. Iain Johnstone has interviewed Streep many times, filmed her at work on location in England and France and interviewed her at The National Film Theatre.