The Legend Of Meryl Streep

She’s widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest living actresses, but, writes Emma Clifton, Meryl Streep still fears failure. As she turns 70, the Hollywood mega star talks about her greatest loss, her guilty pleasure and why she’s forever grateful to Jane Fonda.

When Liane Moriarty, the author of Big Little Lies, was tasked with creating a plot for a second season of the award-winning TV show based on her novel, she had just one request: “Get me Meryl Streep.”

Liane had originally been against the idea of a second series; the first was based on the book and had been wrapped up in a perfect little ending. But then the characters of the Monterey five kept playing on her mind, and an entirely new character turned up: Mary Louise Wright, the mother of the slain Perry Wright. Liane’s sister told her that she could cast whomever she wanted, so why not pick her favourite actress for the new role? That actress was mega star Meryl Streep.

In a beautiful piece of symmetry, it would turn out that the character of Mary Louise would be perfect for Meryl. On June 22, 1949, when Meryl Streep was born, her birth name was not the famous moniker we know today. Instead, she was christened Mary Louise Streep, but along the way “Meryl” became her nickname and she stuck with it. When Liane Moriarty discovered this, she knew it was meant to be. And then it turned out that Meryl herself was such a fan of the series, she signed up immediately to season two before there was even a script to read.

Of course, she is perfect in the series – she’s Meryl Streep, after all. Her name has been synonymous with acting perfection for more than 44 years. After the première of the new series in early June, one → newspaper ran the headline: “Meryl Streep single-handedly justifies more Big Little Lies.” As if it would be any other way.

Facing her fear