Over decades, Meryl Streep has stunned audiences with her amazing acting prowess and her ability to reinvent herself as a performer over different eras. The star who also holds the record for the most Oscar nominations, has proved that no role or character is beyond her reach. Streep’s latest role as the President of the United States in 2021’s important sci-fi thriller Don’t Look Up once again showcased the star’s dominance as a performer in Hollywood.
Apart from this, the cast and crew were also fortunate enough to watch Streep’s unique talent unfold behind the scenes including the Sophie’s Choice actor’s incredible hidden skill of approaching a scene.
Meryl Streep Stunned Director With Her Improvisations
After years of being the queen of Hollywood, it is hardly surprising to see Meryl Streep ace a role in a film. The star who is a walking talking encyclopaedia on acting, has constantly evolved over each decade to stay relevant as a performer. Part of the reason for Streep’s success is her process as an actor and her stunning talent that left Don’t Look Up director Adam McKay speechless on set. Speaking of The Iron Lady star’s amazing improvisation for a scene, McKay said,
“Every single take we did with Meryl, she improvised a different phone call and the head of the scene that she was hanging up on and it was kind of a tour de force of improv that I’ve never seen before. I’m not exaggerating. She did twenty to twenty-five completely different, absurd phone calls,”
The scene is question was one where Streep as the United States President was in a conversation with the two astronomers played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. The filmmaker McKay compared the Oscar-winning icon to Superman, always having a trick up her sleeve.
Meryl Streep Will Endure Anything For Perfection
With a staggering repertoire of films and memorable performances over decades, there’s no stone that Meryl Streep has left unturned in her journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Streep has also earned the reputation as the type of actor who will do anything necessary including going to extremes to create the perfect shot. On the sets of Out of Africa, the veteran proved why she was the queen of a scene with her amazing endurance.
In a grueling outdoor schedule, Streep stood dogged and firm in one particular scene in the film. During a long take, Streep acted entirely composed throughout the shot despite a particularly serious disturbance she was going through. According to screenwriter Kurt Luedtke,
“But the instant Sydney said ‘Cut!’ her face contorted and she smashes her fist against her chest and yelled, ‘Get me this thing out of here!’. The costume person tore open her dress, and out fell an enormous insect! It had been crawling around in there all through the scene, but she had forced herself to ignore it.”
Out Of Africa took home 7 out of its 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. However, Streep didn’t manage to take home the gold statuette for Best Actress in a Leading Role that year but proved that she was a master at understanding and living a character to the last detail.
Source: The Things
