A new book on Meryl has been released this January, and it deserves a special mention here. “Meryl Streep: Anatomy of an Actor” is written by Karina Longworth, a film critic and journalist based in Los Angeles. Instead of fast forwarding through Meryl’s life, Miss Longworth has picked 10 significant Streep performances and explores each role within its film and its place in Meryl’s career at that time. Highlighted are Linda from “The Deer Hunter”, Joanna Kramer, Sophie, Karen Silkwood, Karen Blixen, Madeline Ashton, Francesca Johnson, Miranda Priestly, Julia Child and Margaret Thatcher. Each chapter is filled with detailed information on the creation of the character as well as many quotes from previous interviews.
What’s remarkable about this book is that, even if you have seen the films a dozen times, you will find new aspects in each performance through Miss Longworth’s analytics. The book also includes bonus pages on Meryl’s work on “Holocaust”, her collaboration with Mike Nichols, and more insightful information on how specific roles and choices have influenced the legacy of her career as we know it today. On top of that, it’s filled with some amazing pictures from behind the scenes. “Meryl Streep: Anatomy of an Actor” is available now and can be ordered through Amazon or directly at Phaidon.
