Simply Streep is your premiere source on Meryl Streep's work on film, television and in the theatre - a career that has won her three Academy Awards and the praise to be one of the world's greatest working actresses. Created in 1999, we have built an extensive collection to discover Miss Streep's work through an archive of press articles, photos and video clips. Enjoy your stay.
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Jan
12

While almost all sources cite “Julia” as Meryl’s film debut and “The Deadliest Season” as her first television, the first time that Meryl has ever been seen on a television screen was in “Secret Service“. Originally performed with the Phoenix Theatre Company in April 1976, the William Gillette play was picked by PBS to air for their Great Performances series of theatre adaptations. On January 12, 1977 – 40 years ago on this exact day – American audiences were able to catch a first glimpse of Meryl Streep – surrounded by John Lithgow, Marybeth Hurt, Joe Grifasi and Jeffrey Jones – singing in the chorus of “God Save the South” for the production’s first scene. To celebrate her television debut and the 40th anniversary of her career, I’ve recently launched streeponfilm.com, which will serve as a supplement to Simply Streep – posting background information, rare pictures and articles from back in the day. Imagine it like a 1977 fansite on Meryl Streep, with all the material already waiting to be posted :-) You’re welcome to join Streep on Film, maybe there’s even some old material to contribute. Below you will find one of the rare instances in which Meryl Streep was interviewed on “Secret Service”. She has fond memories of the theatre group, although not so much on Gillette’s “awful” play.

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