By Lubna Abdel-Aziz How about that Meryl Streep? Other actors come and go, but, like 'Ole Man River', she just keeps rolling along. Year after year, film after film Streep continues to find new rivers to cross, new mountains to climb, new pinnacles to reach. She does not tire of making films, filmmakers do not tire of casting her, and audiences do not tire of watching her. It is not because she has a lovable screen persona, rather because of an incredibly immense talent, that regularly astounds and amazes. Streep is by no means perfect, lacking many qualities we associate with film stardom. Glamourous, sensational, exciting, beautiful, passionate, sensuous, she is not. Versatile, prolific, dedicated, extraordinary, polished she is, As exemplary a figure as her friend, Robert De Niro, both are among a handful who have achieved their status by attributes other than good looks. They are able to transform themselves utterly and unrecognizably from one role to another. Streep is often teased for her penchant for accents, which she does superbly.. She easily obliterates all vanity ln the service of her art, yet still shines through the magic of authenticity and perfection. Considered by many as the greatest actress today, and if awards are any indication, she has received more recognition than any living actor with an unprecedented 15 Oscar nominations, and two wins, Meryl has also received 23 Golden Globe nominations, winning six, a feat matched only by the incomparable Jack Nicolson in the male performance category. A prolific actress, Streep creates complex characters but not necessarily your adrenaline-fueled "Cat on a hot tin roaf". It is remarkable that the Streep caliber js not only valued, but sought after in the present production environment. The crop of great movies diminishes, becoming increasingly fewer and farther between. Hollywood regularly resorts to remakes of a good old film, or even a bad one, rehashing old ideas into new, lesser quality features. However, despite the rarity of fine roles for mature women, Streep keeps finding them, and remarkably everything she touches turns to gold. Even mediocre films gain luster from her shining brilliance. How ordinary a film like 'Devil Wears Prada' is, without Streep as the fiendish, hypercritical, fashionista boss? Last season she went from the mistrustful, self-righteous nun in "Doubt", to the arms of Pierce Brosnan as the rollicking, frolicking Dancing Queen in " Mamma Mia". Ability and talent aside, no actor can please everyone. The late, great Katherine Hepburn considered Streep her least favourite modern actress. According to Hepburn's biographer, A. Scott Berg, she said: " Click, click, click", referring to the wheels turning inside Streep's head. To non-actors that is a referral to the skill and technique of the method of acting. Personally, I appreciate Hepburn's astute judgment. On the other hand another late, great, Miss Bette Davis, called Streep, her successor as the premier American actress. Davis set the record for most Oscar nominations with her 10th nomination for "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" until she was overtaken by Kate Hepburn with 12 nominations and 4 wins. Streep has surpassed both with a staggering 15 nominations to date. There is no stopping her. Her first nomination was for her second film only, " The Deer Hunter". And her first Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs Kramer." Sophie's Choice" brought her the golden boy for Best Actress, ranked by Premiere Magazine as #3 on its list of 100 Best Performances of All Time. The longest Meryl Streep has gone without an Oscar nomination was 5 years between " Postcards Form The Edge"(1990) and " Bridges Of Madison County"(1995). Not only is Streep the greatest, but she is also the busiest, never demanding the backbreaking salaries of other superstars. The most she has made as $5 million for "Prada", and $8 million for the current "It's Complicated" opposite Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, who fight over our matronly 60 year old thespian. She works at her craft in any and every media, stretching it, nurturing it and empowering it, That is how she is able to turn gem after gem , and as producers say, " manure into gold". Streep never wanted to be an actor in her youth. She dreamed of becoming an opera singer and started training with a vocal coach at age 12. While studying at the prestigious Vassar College she participated in dramatic productions by chance. She received 15 standing ovations for her performance as the librarian in the musical "Music Man" Still, that was not tempting enough. She applied to enter the Yale Law School, but overslept for her interview. She took that as a sign and enrolled instead at the Yale School of Drama, where she received her Master's Degree. What a break for generations of fans, who call themselves " Streepers". Streep was born Mary Louise on June 22nd, 1949. She enjoyed a remarkable stage career before Hollywood took notice. Happily married for 30 years to sculptor David Gummer, with 4 children, she is the role model for several young and not so young actresses. Whom does she admire among today's working actresses? Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman and Emily Blunt. We concur, perhaps adding Charlize Theron for her Oscar-winning role as serial-killer Aileen Wuornes in "Monster" (2005). Great films, great acting, great writing, may be a thing of the past, There is no stopping Technology. The abundance of the CGI (Computer Graphic Imaging), simply covers the lack of quality in films. To many of us, film was another form of reading books and the grace and grandeur of a Greer Garson, Cary Grant, Bette Davis or Clark Gable is unmatchable. Even actors' rendition of the dialogue is as plain as what we hear everyday. We still yearn for art with soul, with pathos, with heart. A Meryl Streep today renders us grateful.. She meticulously and painstakingly works at her craft, making going to the movies still enjoyable. Her impeccable taste and desire for perfection, makes her an actress for all seasons. Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. -- Michelangelo, Buonarroti, (1475-1564)
