Rare Meryl Streep Interview (1998)

Harry Smith talked to Meryl Streep about her career, acting, accents and life.

[@chynnhowe]

I honestly feel like her secret is just being 100% comfortable with herself. She can lose herself in her passion because she's totally in it and not concerned with what others are thinking.

[@tashW7092]

Agreed!!

[@nicolesmeets8436]

And true EMPATHY ❣️❣️ One of the best ingredients in life if you apply it, right

[@diamondlion222]

She's sooo pretty. She just glows with beauty, warmth, intelligence and love.

[@claudiaj4258]

And so natural😘

[@johngraydon506]

SurfWave01 she has an inside out beauty, I love her dearly abd don’t know her, am i crazy ? No just admire a great person !

[@tubesthedown]

agreed

[@SueProv]

I remember the first time I saw her she has a luminescence and is lit from within. Ingrid Bergman was the only other person who struck me that way.

[@Paddy818]

She said in another interview she didn't do much theatre when her kids were young because she wouldn't be able to put her kids to bed and that was when they told you all their secrets and fears! So wise!! People don't realize the sacrifice you make to do theatre! Especially on a big level! Very hard and demanding! She is simply the best on every level!!

[@sky.the.infinite]

Wow! How deep and insightful. The more I learn about her, the more I respect her as a person and an actress/artist/thespian.

[@corriesmiley4315]

​@@sky.the.infinite😊

[@NinjaOutfitInTheWash]

She's so genuine and so intelligent.

[@asmitachatterjee5146]

When she murmured, "I don't know how to do it!", That did it for me.... Only a thing a GENIUS and a true LEGEND would say! Such is the genius of Meryl Streep 😍😍😍😍

[@lisadiconti]

I loved her in Bridges of Madison County.

[@maximilian2974]

Omg me too. I bawled a good 20 minutes straight after that performance.

[@mehditai]

What a beautiful woman !

[@sherrymacy21]

A VERY BEAUTIFUL LADY

[@productions271]

Her husband is a very lucky man.

[@lisadiconti]

Yes, he is.

[@sibll2276]

Yess lmaooo I hate him cause this

[@oliviagiles]

this woman is amazing and I love her

[@starvla246]

"What do you mean you can't do the accent?" - Don Gummer, supportive husband of Meryl Streep since 1978 😂

[@katarinatomac4376]

lol i loved that bit

[@iamintheburg]

Put Meryl's photo in the dictionary entry of LOVELY : girlish and womanly, motherly and sisterly and serious " Lover " material ; so much personality and fun, so much sunny and real interaction, a true Human Being. She's a great actor, yeah, but she's not so talented as to fake the sincere depth of her true being : in this case, her One True Thing. Damn, I loved this movie and all the performances of her and Zellweger and Hurt.

[@goldenrayofcentralsun1111]

Not your typical beauty but still so beautiful. And talented and smart.

[@brettaanderson1999]

She looked stunning in this viddo

[@romanpasquini5673]

She is so wonderful 😊

[@Ronnin04]

I LOVE HER. I AM FALL IN LOVE WITH HER.

[@lio.zoliver6832]

I have fallen in love with her since I watched her movie "Falling in Love" with Robert De Niro ..! She is a perfect woman. ..!!!

[@Irishjay_94]

itscork what kind of comment is that? It shows great courage for anyone to stand up for what they believe in. You’re discrediting someone on the basis that their political beliefs differ to yours. “Maybe I’ll watch her movies when she’s dead...” to be honest, I don’t think she cares, she’s living her life.

[@MistyVVaves]

"he/she is confusing acting ability with some contrived superficial measurement of "hotness' It's unfortunately a common mistake in our culture." You could not have said it better.

[@lenagigantes7179]

UTUBE COME RAIN OR COME SHINE BY JOHN BAVAS

[@shanilaseemi6237]

Ammi I think this nan is harrassing me

[@outinsider]

I wish she could see this, because she faltered with Margaret Thatcher immensely, and got a reward she didn't deserve on top of that. However, that doesn't mean I don't like her earlier work.

[@ArvindGupta-lx4pf]

On the American side of the planet yeah sure best actress hands down maybe even of all time but only that part of the world.

[@mfresh1965]

What does Jew federation film critic Richard Schmeckel know about what the rest of the world wants to see... so that they can imagine. You are kidding me?

[@esclarmonde1]

She is so self centred and self absorbed. It is a pity she didn't concentrate on her children a little more rather than her films. We have children for such a short time and films are still there when our children leave. She talks about wishing to portray mothers wouldn't it be better if she was a mother in real life.

[@Leprykan1]

Alexandra, you are a fucking IDIOT!!!! You seriously don't know shit about Meryl Streep.

[@deidrelorenz8851]

I think don't meryl streep is self-centered. She & her husband raised beautiful & balanced children. It's interesting in our society that women are expected to do it all. And, when we do, we get criticized. Thanks for expressing your opinion.

[@itscork]

I used to really enjoy her work before she became a political activist. Now I cringe every time she opens her yap. Maybe I'll be able to watch her movies again after she's dead.

[@Irishjay_94]

itscork what kind of comment is that? It shows great courage for anyone to stand up for what they believe in. You’re discrediting someone on the basis that their political beliefs differ to yours. “Maybe I’ll watch her movies when she’s dead...” to be honest, I don’t think she cares, she’s living her life.

[@itscork]

Jason Mills She has the right to voice whatever opinion she likes. I completely support her right. I have the right to no longer watch her films. You have the right to complain about my viewing choices . I have the right to ignore you.

[@deidrelorenz8851]

I think people do have a right to Express their political opinions. I respect what you're saying though.👍

[@grapiken7766]

She is so eloquent. I really admire her.

[@Blitzy279]

I think one of her secrets that she become such a self aware person is that she found the true love in a young age, and she have for all this time the support for the one she love. She didn't lose it herself in the superficial world of the majority of the actrices live because she have with her the only person that she cares about his opinion. She become much more beautiful with the years because she did not struggle with the stress of becoming older, cuz her husband accepted her like she was for the first time he saw her. I don't know how much of a theory is this but I think have a little of true in it. And sorry for my english. Is awful

[@Karina-il3sh]

Yes. Let's attribute Meryl Streep's success to a man.

[@sharishmoniqueesteban3169]

She's beautiful, talented and smart! Gosh! Don't know what to say.

[@fractalcat3696]

I can't get over the interviewer's mistake in the very beginning of the clip XD "Ms. Steep -- Streep, now..:

[@connymark5433]

a wonderful actress and a true human being,love her

[@anwion]

I'm a fan of Meryl streep she's very intellectual and very persuading.

[@Rony2453]

My favorite actress for sure!

[@haumea420]

My 8 year old daughter watched River wild with me and she sees Meryl Streep for the first time and she looks at the tv at Meryl and she says “Wow she’s really pretty.” I thought that was awesome. Meryl is my all time favorite actress❤️😊

[@itsmeGeorgina]

Yes, she is very pretty, age and happiness have made her so, and knowledge of self worth

[@sythlorde]

WOW and this wa in 1998, still one of the bet actresses if not the best actress of our generation, on a VERY short list. lol and I would love to see her reaction to this interview. I cant think of one flat performance she has ever given. An actors actor.

[@mattd501]

What she has is just pure talent, there's no class for it and I believe she knows this, but is just not arrogant and is humble enough not to have to say it. We all know though there is no one like the Goddess Streep!

[@lisadiconti]

Yes...that is why she is likeable....so humble and down to earth.

[@minafish722]

What and amazing woman! Simply amazing.

[@magicbullet2009]

My left ear loved this.

[@Cyberlucy]

What I love about her is that she's so self effacing. She's really uncomfortable with praise.

[@maraluarte6645]

Its 2022 and I just finished watching Meryl's 17 or 18 movies. I never really got the chance to appreciate her until I saw her video during the oscars shifting from being herself to being Miranda in a snap when Anne and Emily were pretending to be in their characters. From then on, I couldn't stop myself from watching her interviews and presscons, even her speech at a university graduation! I'm glad to have seen this video, an interview that she had when One True Thing was shown. I loved her in that movie. She took me with her character's journey through the struggles. I love how she gets lost in her characters, so lost that she can't even be recognized! Love, love, Meryl! She's a master artist! I would PAY just to see her teach a masterclass, even if its just online. But yeah, I respect her artistry even if she has decided not to do a masterclass. I mean, every film that she does is a masterclass in itself. The way she morphs and molds the character, its like she's breathing life to them... she's giving birth to every character she does. 🤍 Love you Meryl, and in another universe, I would have loved to worked with you! I admire you and your artistry so much! 🤍🤍🤍

[@adelaferreira4575]

Thank you Meryl ! Yes you are the mother of your children...but you belong to all of us ,your artistry will stay for the world to see and future generations to absorb.Thank you also for being who you are,your honesty on speaking for people's rights and woman's rights makes a lot of young girls much stronger today !

[@pumpkie9408]

She's absolutely right about there not being any interest in older women.

[@lisadiconti]

I know. Can that be changed?

[@rparrey2011]

I never get tired of watching her. Magnificent lady in the world

[@deirdremcglone6932]

She is truly mesmerizing & genuine.

[@jawhitney25]

This is one of the better interviews I have seen with Meryl. Thank you so much for posting!

[@1redfury]

can you recommend some?

[@LESERSKRING]

Meryl , What you say here I also picked up in Bridges of Madison County " ..the "cliche'..the change in one's life when getting married and have children...your life becomes one of details (bridges) attending to one's family.She says here that you need to still do what feeds your own soul..this was life changing to me..we all love our children but yet tend to forget our own soul and needs.She made me think and I am no longer just "serving" everybody else ....I started living again...Thank Meryl

[@thewomaninthemoon]

She would definitely be on that list now!No one is as essential to the entertainment industry than Streep.She's a genius,and an extraordinary human being.

[@andrewdyke5561]

God she is so beatiful its unreal

[@mitchellmatthews3962]

One could if they truly dared mistake her as a plain face, but it is anything but plain!! That face can do and does do anything, everything and what is yet to be, it transcends time and it is just one of the bag of unbelievable gifts at her display. Her virtuosity, her vivid imagination, the sheer immense dedication she puts to each one of her performances is a testament to the strength and capacity to which a human can push themselves. It is no small feat nor should it ever be seen as one what she enlightens and expands our minds with, that gift is a gift to the human race because it provides a voice and a soul to individual entities as well as to unknown or disregarded minorities/cultures, whether that be derelicts, put upon, stronger than steel or suppressed mothers, political figures, victims of mass genocide, the list goes on!! I honestly can never praise her enough, she has acquired me with so much empathy and knowledge of us mere mortals around us while perhaps not so secretly striving for them and us to be more. Thank you Meryl!!!

[@jas0206]

"Rare" - /on the internet...

[@WitnessMinistries360]

"Life is lived BEST by those with the heart/passion/talent/skill/intensity/articulation mixed with faith, belief and know how! Who follow through and adjust and readjust to the (moving) targets between them and the bulls-eye of their goals/dreams!" ~ Robert Arheit Jr. All this authors/users posts and comments are All rights reserved.

[@irismac2442]

Perfect description for any work that is for the good of all humans... Just wait, the women are coming through...

[@LeLionsFromNantucket]

Lovely woman. My favorite actress and my role model.

[@NAConen]

She’s so much better than Robbie DeNiro it’s not even close.

[@signsofjoy]

He (or she) is either trolling, or he/she is confusing acting ability with some contrived superficial measurement of "hotness". It's unfortunately a common mistake in our culture. With all due respect to Megan Fox, Meryl Streep has more acting talent and versatility, which makes Meryl a better actress. Meryl Streep also seems to be a truly compassionate and wonderful human being, and has been vocal about supporting gay rights, so she's also one of my absolute favorite celebrities. :)

[@thomasnorman9536]

Harry Smith is enjoying this interview she's kind of nice looking talented appears very happy with her life and he probably loves her husband

[@MspedzRN]

A second AFI would be nice. At lest the Kennedy Center finally acknowledged her passion for acting and for her it is the quintessential Artist. She is a great human, a role model we need more of. Love ya Meryl

[@mastmedia2798]

To be honest, rarely have I never seen Brando or DeNiro transform themselves into a completely different person. Like Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep is an artist. Acting is more than just a profession for her. It's an innate ability. What she was born to do cannot be taught. The skill to mimic emanates from her so effortlessly. It's like watching robot that's been programmed to imitate. It's criminal to overlook such an exceptional talent, regardless of gender.

[@embrya26]

I wouldn’t throw Johnny Depp into the mix at all. Daniel Day Lewis for sure but not Depp. As for Brando and DeNiro, they have transformed many, many times but Cagney though a very good actor wasn’t on their level or Streep’s or Bette Davis’ for that matter.

[@bradenharris8718]

Johnny Depp maybe USED to transform into different characters for films but no longer. Every single movie since Jack Sparrow seems to be just versions of that character....

[@NAConen]

@Randy White But Streep hits a home run EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I can’t say the same for DeNiro even though he’s darn good.

[@Egyglory]

I don't know this woman started acting before I was born and she's my favorite actress and I live her sooooooooo much she's really amazing

[@marioimolina]

to her explaining how to act sounds like maccartney trying to explain how he writes songs. they can't really explain it. it's all intuitive

[@DibIrken]

No one will ever do Miranda Priestly like she does it ever. That role will be untouchable.

[@ChaserOfMornings]

She hasn't aged in the past 15 years O.O She is amazing!

[@samjeffries6192]

Meryl streep is amazing love her

[@lararomanoff]

That is the most amazingly profound things she said about acting. Can I use part of it my mockumetary film " Let's Play"?

[@lizzysmith6728]

She and DiCaprio are on the same level of absolute screen dedication, and I can't help but feel humbled by the sacred passion they both possess for acting

[@blanchefan]

Duhhh--That wasn't what he was asking her about; if you knew anything about her, you know her children are grown up and happy and fabulous; they've always been her priority; if childbearin' is your thing, ask someone else. When you're talking to the greatest actor EVER, you ask about her art. But that doesn't seem your interest...

[@Surajsingh-kw5se]

Who has watched every single film of her from Julia to the post. Like me .

[@hollistallard]

She is absolutely stunning 🥲 such an amazing actress and her ability to adjust to so many different roles is just insane. She has that delicate feminine about her like Marilyn Monroe but in a totally different badass way!

[@rudolfbarbarazubler5243]

La Grande Dame du cinema, interviewed by a great interlocutor - and he sooo resembles Klaus Maria doesn't he ? ;) Thanks for sharing this

[@princessjoots]

you're forgetting that people who do theatre spend their entire day sleeping and recovering from the last nights performance and if they're not sleeping then they are getting ready for a show or doing interviews or rehearsing some more.....people who do theatre never come out of the theatre except on sundays and are pretty much useless to the rest of the world during a run! You could never look after your kids properly during a theatre run. Impossible haha!!!

[@lukeguldanofficial]

no they don't. And most theaters are dark on Monday. Sunday's are typically 2 show days.

[@MsPiggyluv]

Meryl Streep better WIN the oscars or Grammies this year, she deserves it:)

[@Stylomagic]

3:44"Oh well... that's acting!" 🤣🤣🤣 She killed me!

[@RandiSobol]

Perfect answer! But what I especially love about it (and I’ve remembered her answer since I first saw this interview when it originally aired) is that, in addition to meaning what it seems to, it’s actually the punchline to the best theater joke of all time - and the fact that she delivered it in the accent that’s key to the joke shows it wasn’t a coincidence, she was definitely doing the punchline. Made me so happy. If you’re interested, here’s the joke (pretend you don't already know the punchline): A new production of Hamlet was holding auditions. At the end of a long day enduring a parade of prospective Hamlets ranging from mediocre to awful, the production team was losing hope that they'd ever find a decent leading man. In despair after the last scheduled audition, they were packing up to leave when an old man shuffled in, hunched over his cane. The director mustered his last shred of civility and asked him what he was looking for. The old man replied in a thick Yiddish accent, "I em heer for dee audishintz." The director muffled a sigh. "Oh...what role did you want to read for?" "Hemlett." "Oh, the ghost of Hamlet's father?" "No, I em heer to audishin for dee rhole of Hemlett." The director turned to the producer and casting director, who were barely stifling guffaws; he decided they could all use a little comic relief after the depressing day they'd had, and handed a page to the old man. "Okay, sir, it's late, so why don't you just read this speech and we'll take your information afterwards." The old man glanced at the page, said "Tenk yu, but I know dee spich" and handed it back to the director. He then hobbled to the center of the audition space. Suddenly, the little old man from Mittel Europe became the beautiful young prince of Denmark, tall and strong, with a mellifluous voice by turns powerful and tender, filled with emotion, relaying the speech's every nuance of thought and feeling with perfect command of the verse, yet utterly naturally. It was thrilling. When he finished the speech, he shakily gripped his cane, once again the feeble old man who'd entered the room minutes before. There was a brief silence as the director, producer and casting director absorbed the full impact of this breathtaking performance. After a moment, the director had recovered enough to address the old man. "Sir, that was truly extraordinary; you are simply one of the greatest actors I have ever seen. I must ask you, how do you do it?" The old man shrugged. "Det's ectink."

[@bernlin2000]

My Left Ear Enjoyed This

[@nikkianderson90]

I think one of my favorite roles of hers was playing Julia in Defending Your Life... largely because it's the only movie I've ever seen her in where she was just playing herself, so it was like getting to hang out with Meryl Streep for 2 hours, which was fun. :)

[@brigadierblue221]

Completely agree

[@liliaarmstrong8800]

I just love the Bridges of Madison County.For me its the most romantic movie I've ever watch.Her and Clint Eastwood are superb.love it!!!

[@shinyDiamond89]

Beautiful.

[@nicolakirton2252]

I just love Meryl Streep - she is my favourite actress, and her versatility is second to none. She, I think , is particularly brilliant in comedy roles, I feel, where she is not taking herself, or her role too seriously. I think that is the real Meryl Streep, a person who does not take herself too seriously, and these are my favourite people. I also love her singing, what a talent.

[@yalejomo]

Being from beautiful Colorado and also being supposedly the greatest fan of Meryls's there is, I thank you so much for uploading this vid. Great, hilarious, simply: Streep!

[@thecontainerthecontents6889]

one thing i can see clearly -- this is a very very intelligent person. Trustworthy? no. With actors, obsessive professional actors, I think they believe themselves somehow transcending the idea of "lying" -- bc in their minds, they're just acting, performing -- even... entertaining -- serving us! -- and if it's consensual and we know it's a scripted fiction, and we consent to experience the ruse over ourselves when we watching a movie... that's fine. but what about when we don't their performing anymore?

[@savedfaves]

I'm Irish and her Dancing at Lughnasa does seem overdone. Difficult accent the Irish accent.

[@nicoletheunissen7077]

🤍of men are cold in the last days🖤,turn NOW.Jesus Do Come back⚠️,wake up‼.for what is the deal if you gain the whole world but still lose your own soul⁉️

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

It's okay, to say ..."I was born with this talent ...not everybody is" "I'm smart enough, good enough ...and dog gone it, I like myself"

[@tonitalas1757]

The greatest actress ever !

[@flordobelem8617]

Amo essa atriz e é lindíssima 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@EphemeralProductions]

Always thought it was said “loog-nah-suh. “

[@jslasher1]

Giving this upload the thumbs down is tantamount to sacrilege.

[@DeborahCheetham69]

Happy Birthday Meryl, i just totally adore you xxx

[@KimMarchant90]

I LOVE MERYL! She's TOO perfect!!!!

[@philhodgkinson1460]

It's personal but named my daughter after her.......

[@suzannebenz8928]

Meryl Streep has always been exceptional!!!!

[@giordanotirelli6028]

Happy birthday meryl from italian boy live in rome

[@Skipbo000]

OMG that's not true. Lucille Ball was on the list (and the cover - duh?). Oprah was on the list as well as Aretha Franklin.

[@anjalimanwani5985]

I'm watching this in 2020

[@anastaciacaillez1443]

fine fine human being and extraordinarily gifted meryl is

[@vodacomcars8969]

2021/03/17 I'm still watching from #South Africa Daniel Kgaje I thank you

[@akhilvaliyaveettil7996]

Marvelous Meryl Streep

[@junaldinho100]

One of the best actresses of all time!!!!

[@kcaircon]

lol Ms. Stee- Streep now

[@webyn9776]

I absolutely adore her

[@JUJULVMS]

meryl e vida!!

[@Frucade2703]

Someone's jealous here ;D

[@Nicky07ist1]

hahaha "OHWELL THATS ACTING" too good!!

[@DvsDvs-e3x]

Meryl Streep Fenomen Women