Meryl Streep talks family, retirement, #MeToo, Big Little Lies and why she’s still belting out Abba songs years after Mamma Mia! – interview
Despite avoiding the small screen for years, the actress frequently hailed as Hollywood’s greatest has now clocked five Emmy nominations – as well as 21 Oscars nods – including one for HBO’s Big Little Lies with Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon
After each film I would do I would tell my husband, ‘OK. That’s it. I’m not going to work anymore; we should find a place to retire’
“There are lots of women who have done just as much with fewer advantages than I’ve enjoyed,” she smiles. “I think there’s a bias against women when it comes to discussing the idea of making sacrifices. That question doesn’t arise when it comes to men – a man has always been seen as someone who works hard and has a full-time occupation. I think women should have the same opportunity and not have any stigma attached to them if they choose to pursue their careers.
“Life is all about making choices and I’m very happy with mine. I have had a wonderful time raising four children and I’ve also been lucky to have the support of a wonderful husband.”
Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that Streep has blazed a trail for future generations of actresses with her work. Having celebrated her 71st birthday in June, she continues to be a role model for younger female stars of stage and screen, as well as a permanent reminder to the industry that age is nothing but a number – a fact that Streep is all too aware of when it comes to sharing the stage with an overawed younger actress.
“What I try to do from the very first day is break down that kind of separation between me and those actors who might feel that way,” she laughs. “You can’t have that distance or any artificial wall between you and other cast members. So I try to have fun with that; I’ll forget my lines, I’ll turn in the wrong direction, or do something to shatter any illusions of perfection they might have of me. I want the other actors to think, ‘Maybe she’s not as good as we thought’, and then they relax, and we all feel comfortable. After the first day it’s never an issue!”
Given her long history of playing strong women on screen – “I’m not as strong or as brave as some of those women,” she insists – the positive changes the movie industry has experienced in recent years must be heartening to Streep.