Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep

There are over a dozen books about the life of Meryl Streep. The subtitle of this one is Becoming Meryl Streep. This deals with her life before Sophie’s Choice and The French Lieutenant’s Woman. This book is about her early years as she endured scathing criticism and competition for coveted roles. At the heart of this book is her love affair with a fellow actor and his death from cancer. It is undeniable that this loss created a deepening of character and greater empathy for her in her work as an actress. This book also details the abuse that every actress is subject to by famous directors and actors who view them as property. But even before that, Drama School sounds like a microcosm of that cutthroat world. That talent can even be sustained while being shaped by whimsical artists seems a miracle. The portrait which emerges in this book is about someone who was born to act. Endless curiosity, a desire to fit in and be liked and an ability to become someone else.

Merly Streep is married and has four children. She is widely considered to be the best actress of her generation. One would hope that this is a happy ending for our national treasure.