AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Meryl Streep will present Shirley MacLaine with the American Film Institute’s 40th Life Achievement Award – America’s highest honor for a career in film. The private black tie gala will be held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City on June 7 and will air on TV Land on Sunday, June 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. “The world loves Shirley MacLaine,” said Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of AFI. “AFI’s challenge will be how to fit it all into one evening because hers is a life that spans from movies to television to Broadway, books and beyond. Perhaps more than any other recipient, with Shirley I would underline the word life in Life Achievement Award,” he said. “Hers is a story more than just movies. It’s an epic journey, and she has invited all of us to come along for the ride.” “It is sure to be a magical evening celebrating Shirley’s career, especially with Meryl Streep and many other stars who will be on hand,” remarked Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. “Shirley’s storied film and television career is so rich and colorful, it will be an unforgettable tribute.” Thanks to Glenn and Frederique for the heads-up.

As most of you probably know, Meryl has attended the Ellen DeGeneres Show today to promote “The Iron Lady” – the first of two talkshow appearances today, as she’ll be on Jimmy Kimmel Live as well, not to mention today’s Critics Choice Movie Awards. A longer excerpt from the appearance has been added, in which she talks about the National Women’s History Museum. The full segment will follow. Also, HD captures have been added to the image library.

Meryl’s interview on the French talkshow Le Grand Journal has been added to the video archive. Her segment is short but funny, especially the card trick. Additionally, find captures from the interview in the image library.

These coming days, Meryl will do the talkshow rounds to promote the US and international releases of “The Iron Lady”. Updated: On Monday, she will be a guest on the French talkshow Le Grand Journal, which airs at 19h10 on CanalPlus. On January 12, there will be two US appearances, the first on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and later that day on Jimmy Kimmel Live. If you miss any of these appearances, don’t worry as they’ll be uploaded to Simply Streep afterwards. Thanks to Christy for the heads-up on the Ellen appearance.

Edit: Apparently her interview on Le Grand Journal will be taped today, but broadcast on Monday. Thanks to Jeff for sending this in.

Tonight, a profile on Meryl Streep was featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes. Needless to say it’s an absolute must-see – not only does it feature lots of new scenes from “The Iron Lady” but also from her early theater years and a very interesting and funny interview with Meryl on her life and career. Also, the CBS website has a gallery of fantastic rare images and additional clips of footage that didn’t make it into the programme, including on her co-stars, her big break audition, stage fright and thought about directing – have a look. The full video can be watched in the video archive.

Over 400 screencaptures from the programme have been added to the image library as well.

Last but not least, the pictures from the CBS special as well as the ones throughout the programme have been added – including an amazing still from Meryl’s professional stage debut “Trelawney of the Wells” and set pictures from “Sophie’s Choice”, “Falling in Love”, “Heartburn”, “Angels in America” and “It’s Complicated”.

Two red carpet interviews from Entertainment Tonight and Extra, covering the New York premiere of “The Iron Lady”, have been added to the video archive. Edit: A couple of new pictures from the premiere have been added to the image library as well. Also, with thanks to Christine for the heads-up, Meryl will be attending “The Today Show” on December 21 to promote the film.

Meryl Streep sat down with CBS’ Morley Safer for a rare interview to be broadcast on “60 Minutes” Sunday, Dec. 18 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT. “I don’t like to go over things,” she tells Safer, “and over and over and over…and over and over again….I guess I have less tolerance for it. I like movies that have a little budget and so they can’t do [scenes over and over],” says Streep, who has another pet peeve: films increasingly being aimed at younger, less intellectual audiences. “That’s called the narrowing of the audience,” says Streep. Click below for an excerpt from the interview:

“The movie business has worked very assiduously to discourage you and other intelligent, discerning people from the…movie theater. They have worked hard to get rid of you because you don’t go then and buy toys and games.” What’s better today is the acting says Streep. “I think the acting is better than in the classic days.” In Streep’s next film, “Iron Lady,” she plays a classic character in Britain’s famous Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. “I am in awe of what she did. The policies you can argue with, but to sit in that hot seat,” she says, “I can’t even imagine having that steadfastness.” Reminded by Safer that the former world leader was also self-assured and very confident that her way was the right way, Streep replies “Oh yes…I have a lot of that,” she tells Safer. So was playing Thatcher typecasting? “A little bit,” says Streep.

Meryl Streep will be a guest on “The View”, December 23, 2011, to promote “The Iron Lady”. More talkshow appearances will be posted as they’re announced – also have a look at the calendar on the left for all latest key dates. Thanks to everybody for the heads-up!

Many thanks to John for sharing this: Academy Award winner Meryl Streep and Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday have contributed their considerable talents to Sky Island, a new film on Bandelier National Monument and the Jemez Mountains. The film was written, produced and directed by environmental filmmaker John Grabowska. Participation in the film production was, in a way, a health issue for Streep, relating to open spaces and wild places: “Our personal health depends on the health of the environment,” she said. “Preserving national parks and wildlands is an exercise in long-term thinking about the sustainability of the planet, and it directly impacts each one of us. I hope viewers are inspired by the mood and method of Sky Island. I know I was which is why I wanted to be a part of it.” “It’s such a pleasure to work with artists who are the best in their field,” Grabowska said. “Meryl is charming and down to earth but very dedicated to getting the performance exactly right, even for – or perhaps especially for – a project like this, which addresses dramatic climate change effects in Bandelier and the Jemez. Sky Island is currently on the film festival circuit and will air on PBS in 2011.

Three documentaries with Meryl – including one about Meryl – will be released on DVD in the USA these coming days, so here’s an overview on what can be watched soon on disc. First is the Biography Channel’s documentary on Meryl Streep. It originally aired in December 2008 and features a couple of interviews with Meryl from various shows and remarks by film experts. The DVD will be released on September 28, 2010. Thanks to Andrea and Judy for the heads-up on this. Then, the outstanding documentary “Theater of War“, following the cast and crew of the 2006 Public Theater production of “Mother Courage and her Children” (see preview), makes it R1 debut on October 19, 2010. And on November 09, 2010, another remarkable documentary will make it to DVD – “I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale” chronicles the exceptional professional and unfortunately short life of actor John Cazale (see preview), and included interview with the heavyweights he’s worked with as well as the many admirers he’s found among actors.