Meryl Streep drew cheers at yesterday’s annual gala for the Human Rights Campaign, a national group that advocates on behalf of LGBTQ rights, where Streep received the group’s National Ally For Equality Award. Among the other honorees and speakers were Senator minority leader Charles Schumer, who was more impassioned and freewheeling than we are used to seeing him on the Senate floor; Moonlight writer Tarell Alvin McCraney; and late-night host Seth Meyers. But it was Streep who carried the night. As Deadline wrote, Meryl spoke of the early and powerful influence of teachers when she was growing up in suburban New Jersey, and particularly of Paul Grossman, her music teacher when she was in sixth and seventh grades. He had taken the class on a field trip to the Statue of Liberty, she recalled. “Our whole class stood at the feet of that huge, beautiful woman and we sang a song that he had taught us with the lyrics taken from the poem by Emma Lazarus engraved at the face of the monument.” Streep paused as if considering her next move, and then began to sing. “Give me your tired your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore Send thee the homeless tempest toss’t to me. I life my lamp beside the golden door.” At one point she turned away from the audience, her eyes red with tears before continuing, and when finished, she half-whispered, “I can’t remember what I did Tuesday, but I remember that.” Streep said that Paul Grossman later became Paula Grossman and was promptly fired, never seeing a classroom again.

This evening, Meryl Streep has attended the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards as a Best Actress nominee for “Florence Foster Jenkins”. The statue was won by “La La Land”‘s Emma Stone. Lots of pictures from the arrivals and from inside the ballroom, mingling with Amy Adams, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, have been added to the photo gallery. If Meryl was one of the first celebrities to speak out about the current political climate at the Golde Globes three weeks ago, almost every recipient at the SAGs followed in her footsteps. Streep received a shoutout from winner and former co-star John Lithgow, who noted that the SAG Awards are about actors honoring actors, and he praised his fellow nominees in the category, adding that “a great actress somehow managed to speak my exact thoughts three weeks ago in another awards ceremony and that’s Meryl Streep.” Hundreds of additional pictures have been added with many many thanks to Claudia and Lindsey, alongside screencaptures and the Best Actress segment in the video archive. Enjoy the new additions.

Congratulations to Meryl Streep on receiving her 20th – twentieth! – Academy Award nomination. Earlier this morning, she has received a Best Actress nomination for “Florence Foster Jenkins”, alongside Isabelle Huppert for “Elle”, Ruth Negga for “Loving”, Natalie Portman for “Jackie” and Emma Stone for “La La Land”. “Florence Foster Jenkins has received another nomination for Best Costume Design (the expected nominations for Best Hair and Makeup and a Supporting nomination for Hugh Grant were overlooked). To revive Meryl’s past Oscar nominations, have a look at Simply Streep’s Academy Award special. The Academy Awards will be handed out during a live ceremony on February 26, 2017.

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.

Congratulations to Meryl Streep for receiving a BAFTA Award nomination as Leading Actress for “Florence Foster Jenkins”. She shares the category with Amy Adams for “Arrival”, Natalie Portman for “Jackie”, Emma Stone for “La La Land” and Emily Blunt for “The Girl on the Train”. The BAFTAs have embraced “Florence Foster Jenkins” with a total 4 nominations, for Hugh Grant as Best Supporting Actor as well as Costume Design and Hair & Make-Up. Throughout her career, Meryl Streep has received two Best Actress prizes from the British Academy, for “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” in 1982 and for “The Iron Lady” in 2012. The BAFTAs are handed out on February 12, 2017.

Tonight at the Golden Globes, Meryl Streep gave a speech that should be winning her just another award for the brilliant mind she is. Streep spoke of the importance of empathy in today’s world and referenced the moment that Trump mocked New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski during a rally in 2015 for his disability. “This instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in thee public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody’s life because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing,” Streep said. “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.” She then highlighted the importance of the press: “We need the principled press to hold power to account, to call them on the carpet for every outrage. That’s why our Founders enshrined the press and its freedoms in our Constitution.” Her full speech and tribute video can be found in the video archive, pictures are constantly being added to the photo gallery. After the cut, you can also find a transcript of her speech.

Condolences to the Fisher family so quick again after Debbie Reynolds has passed away only a day after her dauhter. Carrie Fisher, the actress and writer best known for her iconic role as Star Wars’ Princess Leia, died Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack four days earlier. She was 60. The daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, she carved out her own idiosyncratic career as a truth-telling Hollywood wit. Frankly addressing her own problems with substance abuse and bipolar disorder, she penned the 1987 hit novel “Postcards From the Edge”, an only slightly fictionalized version of her own life as a sometimes-depressed actress and the daughter of a major, and occasionally intimidating, Hollywood star. She went on to write the book’s screen adaptation for the 1990 film version, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. Whenever Fisher appeared on the Hollywood awards circuit to pay tribute to another star, she could be counted on to offer up a wry observation that provoked laughter. Speaking at the 2004 AFI Life Achievement Award given to Streep, she recalled what it was like to have the Oscar-winning actress play her. “After Postcards premiered, I began daily to see the pain and disappointment in the eyes of my family and friends every time I wasn’t Meryl,” Fisher admitted. “There’s a name for this condition as it turns out — Merylnoma Streepdecoccus.” Streep and Fisher grew close during the pre-production of “Postcards from the Edge” and remained friends and frequent red carpet companions. This is truly sad news. Rest in peace.

Congratulations once again as Meryl has received a Best Actress Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, as well as a Best Actress Phoenix Film Critics Society nomination, for “Florence Foster Jenkins”. At the SAGs, Hugh Grant was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor. at the Phoenix Society, “Florence” racked up four nominations – for Best Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor and Best Costume Design. The Phoenix winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 20, 2015. The Screen Actors Guild Awards are handed out on January 29, 2017. This is Meryl Streep’s 16th SAG Award nominations, with acting categories and ensemble categories combined. She received her first nomination at the 1st annual awards for “The River Wild” in 1995 and her most recent nomination in 2015 for “Into the Woods”. Congratulations. Thanks to Frank for the Phoenix news.

Say hello to the record breaker Meryl Streep, who, this morning, has earned her 30th Golden Globe nomination – the most individual nominations of all time. She is nominated as Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy alongside Annette Bening (20th Century Woman), Lilly Collins (Rules Don’t Apply), Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen) and Emma Stone (La La Land). “Florence Foster Jenkins fared well at the Golden Globes with three more nominations as Best Picture Comedy or Musical as well as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations for Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg. Even if Meryl does not win in her competitive category, she will take the stage to receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award. The 74th Golden Globe Awards are handed out on January 08, 2017.

Hundreds of additional pictures from the press conference and opening ceremony of the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival have been added to the photo gallery. Videos will follow soon, this weekend at least. Many thanks to everybody, especially Yuri, for helping out with pictures and links. Very appreciated!