Meryl has been in Spain this past week to accept the Princess of Asturias Award. The prize is "awarded to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs." You can find the ceremony on YouTube, including a speech that Meryl gives upon receiving it. I've included an excerpt below of an interview she did with Antonio Banderas as well. It's a little annoying because the translation is pretty loud over the regular speech, but you can make out what they're saying just fine.
In other "news" MANY sources started reporting two days ago that Meryl and her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, quietly separated six years ago. This was actually pretty shocking. I tend not to post stuff about Meryl's personal life, unless is affects her acting career in some way. Some of my first thoughts went to whether or not their separation has perhaps altered her career trajectory in some way. Six years ago was 2017. This was the year Meryl filmed The Post. She and Don attended the Academy Awards together in 2018, so apparently they did so when they were "separated."
Since that time, she has done The Laundromat, Little Women, Big Little Lies, The Prom, Let Them All Talk, Don't Look Up, and recently of course, Only Murders in the Building. This list may not be her most stellar string of work, but I'm hard pressed to see how her separation from Don clearly indicates a point-in-time change in trajectory. I recognize that her most recent Oscar-nominated role was right around that time, but it still just doesn't add up for me. Plus, Meryl was announced to star in Places, Please in early 2021. There were also some rumblings that same year that she may star in Babylon (technically year prior) and/or Ari Aster's Beau is Afraid. Had it been announced that Meryl and Don had separated in the summer of 2021, I'd totally be on board with assuming it would've had something to do with her not starring in certain projects or perhaps taking a bit of an extended break.
Of course, everything is an assumption, because we don't know any real facts. And honestly, it's not necessarily that important to me. If it's truly been six years since they split, I suspect the pair has had ample time to move on emotionally. All the best to those involved. Hopefully we get to see more of Meryl in the near future.
the selfish proud in me was heartbroken with the separation news because she seems to have it all - work and personal wise. Her being the greatest actor alive and has one of the longest(and seemingly happy) marriages in Hollywood/showbiz history. such a feat to have. They looked content & compatible with each other so I never would expect it will turn out this way especially in their golden age but surely they know what's best. I don't think this will affect her quality performance anyway.
ReplyDeleteP/s: I'm still hoping she gets that 4th Oscar..
Great clip. I watched it with headphones and noticed that the audio is split, so keeping one ear headphone-free removes the translation. Streep is in very fine fettle, the next career phase is brewing.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Gummers’ separation: it isn’t “news” but it feels like it on some level. Across Streep’s career there’s always been a “Don’s-keeping-the-home-fires-burning” vibe, and she’s often acknowledged his role in supporting her drive to work as a performer; her need to be both actor and homemaker.
Separation of a somewhat legendary, so-called “Hollywood couple”, and the timing of the announcement, implies a significant shift in identity for both parties.
It’s really that which correlates in my mind with Streep’s work since the separation. All those roles mentioned are ensemble work, not “it all hangs on Meryl” knockouts. They make sense for someone whose identity in a family was needing to be reassessed and redefined for a time. No solo press tours where she was the focus and the only major female star in the spotlight, working very often with old friends, particularly actor friends, on projects that didn’t take much time away right as grandchildren came along.
There’s no mistake that the separation announcement comes with this latest award. It’s a chance to be seen in a new light. As diehard fans this isn’t critical for us, but it reestablishes currency for Streep within the filmmaking marketplace. I still think she has her sights set on Europe and the UK, so this award, plus the separation announcement, may preface production news. Meetings may have taken place on that European trip, for example.
In any case, all those role mentioned are wonderful. I haven’t watched more than clips of OMITB, and have savoured the others long after they were released.
What I see is a savvy player in the entertainment sphere, experienced enough to dance between the corporate behemoths while having a lot of fun, and redefining herself on the home front until she was ready to emerge.
Astute observations as usual, Mike. I'm still not sold on whether or not Meryl made role choices based on a shift in identity around the time of their separation, but IF there were any alterations to her planned filmography, your rationale seems extremely plausible.
DeleteI'm glad you mention the timing of the announcement. I wondered about that a bit as well, like why now? Maybe it really is a transition to a new phase of her career, perhaps with certain directors that work out of Europe (we know Americans are much more youth obsessed and the UK for example is less afraid of showcasing older women in prominent roles), and with a renewed sense of independence that could even be a useful aspect to garnering audience interest in whatever she does next.
There is a sense that this announcement was to get the separation news out of the way and devalue it as scandal, and for audiences to take a fresh look at Streep showing up for a big Euro prize looking and sounding fab. Mission accomplished, I say.
DeleteI’ve made a career out of journalistically connecting the dots, usually more historically. It doesn’t make me an expert in anything or anyone, but I think it’s elucidating to look at the motivations that could be behind the actions people take, especially when hindsight can be applied. Forget what they said, look at what they did.
I reckon the recent MammaMia media event also worked as positive PR building for its star, reminding execs how bankable Streep is.
We’re seeing a brand being re-established and reengineered in real time. It’s all positive, particularly since the separation was years ago.
Michael, well analysed and said. Thank you.
DeleteIn hindsight if it was going to be announced I'm glad it didn't overshadow her work on OMITB. I read an article suggesting someone leaked it last week as a 'blind item', prompting the statement. Not sure how true that is.
DeleteIt was indeed Anonymous who broke the story on "Deuxmoi", then someone posted it on Reddit（https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/17bzxdw/a_list_actress_separated_from_her_husband_since/
Deleteand then Page Six posted the news. I suspect that Page Six saw the story, smelled something, and contacted Meryl's team. Meryl probably didn't think it was a big deal and simply admitted it. I'm leaning towards the idea that it wasn't meryl who initiated the revelation, in all these years she's never voluntarily spilled the beans about her private life to the media, it's not her usual MO.
Meryl Streep, blindsided by a blind item?
Deletehttps://www.laineygossip.com/who-sold-meryl-streep-out-with-blind-item-on-deuxmoi-about-end-of-her-marriage/74994
Thanks God. She avoided three big and bad flops, Babylon,Beau and The Good house.
ReplyDeleteLove that bit when she imitated Penelope Cruz, spot on!
ReplyDeleteShe was very fun! I loved that speech.
DeleteThat was one of her finest speeches in a repertoire of great ones. Streep is a master of line readings.
ReplyDeleteDid you catch the small rumour of.a possible role in Adam McKay's next film? Wouldn't surprise me in the least given the recent pattern of working with people she knows.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/average-height-average-build-netflix-movie-what-we-know-so-far-10-2023/
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