2012 is in its last week, so let’s revisit the hightlights of Meryl’s incredible year. Enjoy reading and reminding what happened in these last twelve months and share your personal hightlights. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, see you in 2013. 2012 has been the busiest year for Meryl Streep in a long time. There were two films to promote, a third to be filmed and a new shelf to be bought for all the accolades she won for “The Iron Lady”.

Although “The Iron Lady” had a limited release in December 2011 to qualify for awards season, the film widely released in January. In order to promote the film, Meryl participated in an international press campaign, starting with the European premiere in London on January 4 and the Paris premiere three days later. The film’s release was met with support by the American Vogue, who made Meryl their “cover girl” for the January 2012 issue. On January 10, Meryl was on hand at theNew York Film Critics Circle Awards, accepting a trophy as Best Actress. She also taped various interviews for the US release, attending both Ellen DeGeneres‘  show as well as Jimmy Kimmel Live.  For the Golden Globe Awards, much was speculated if  either Meryl or Viola Davis would be named winner in the Best Actress Drama category. Both actresses have has received  numerous accolades for their performances in “The Iron Lady” and “The Help” before, and the Golden Globe win in this category was expected to be a direction towards the Academy Awards. At the Golden Globes on January 16, it was Meryl’s name to be called, accepting her career’s eighth Golden Globe win. After mentioning performances by leading ladies that weren’t nominated that year, Meryl thanked “everybody in England that let me come and trample all over their history.”

Indian Country has recently interviewed actress and Blackfeet native Misty Upham. The darkly comedic play August: Osage County premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007. It went on to Broadway, where it had 648 performances and won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Since then it’s toured across the U.S. and around the world. One of the play’s key roles is Johnna Monevata, a Cheyenne woman whom the Weston family hires as a live-in housekeeper. Johnna is the witness as the sharp-tongued matriarch lashes out at family members, in-laws and hangers-on. It’s scheduled to be released in 2013. What was it like working with stars such as Streep, Roberts and McGregor?

Nothing less than amazing! It was strange to be running lines with Ewan. I remember thinking, “I am running lines with Obi-wan!” Surreal. But once you get past being starstruck and see how they approach work then it becomes less scary. They’re actors like myself. And wonderful people. I took any chance I could to watch Meryl live. When she worked, everyone watched with awe. Even the props department. It was inspiring to see such respect for a true icon of our age. Amazing.

Did you have any funny or nice moments with your co-stars?

Tons. Watched news coverage of Hurricane Sandy with everyone at Meryl’s one night. She was pointing out her apartment on the screen. Ewan would sing to amuse us in the morning while we got our hair and make-up done. That was pretty sweet. And trying to talk George Clooney into trying the amazing crabcakes at Sterlings was fun. He wouldn’t budge.

Congratulations to Meryl for receiving a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for “Hope Springs”. She shares the category with Emily Blunt (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), Judi Dench (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) and Maggie Smith (Quartest). Streep’s nomination remains the only one for the film. This is Meryl Streep’s 27th nomination for a Golden Globe and the eighth in the comedy category. The Golden Globes will be handed out during a live ceremony on January 13, 2013.

Some odd news courtesy Variety. Bravo is breathing life into “Death Becomes Her.” Twenty years after the theatrical debut of the film, Bravo and the pic’s helmer, Robert Zemeckis, have begun eyeing a smallscreen adaptation. Zemeckis is on board to exec produce the hourlong drama project along with Jack Rapke and Jackie Levine, though a writer has yet to be tapped. The TV version of “Death Becomes Her” will be produced by Universal Cable Prods. and Lupara Prods. Universal released the film in 1992 and, by airing on Bravo, the cable adaptation will remain in the NBCUniversal family. “Death Becomes Her” centers on two rival women who both attain eternal youth. Pic, starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis, earned $58 million Stateside and $149 million globally. Good to know Zemeckis is on board again, but I doubt we should be expecting to see Meryl being a part of it. Thanks to everybody for the heads-up!

Make sure to get your DVD, Blu-Ray or on demand copy of “Hope Springs”, out in the USA on December 04. The DVD, in various formats, offers director commentary, a five-minute gag reel, a four-minute featurette with Streep and Jones talking marriage, and 17 minutes of alternate takes. The Blu-ray offers four additional featurettes. Over 1.000 Blu-Ray screencaptures from the film have been added to the image library, with many thanks to my friend Lindsey, who got her pre-order a day early. Enjoy the screencaptures.

With the Golden Globe nominations being announced next week, both Meryl and Tommy Lee are favors to receive nominations in the categories for Comedy actor and actress, respectively. The film has received generally positive reviews upon its release, the New York Times wrote, that “Mr. Jones and Ms. Streep keep the therapy scenes lively, despite Mr. Frankel’s stolid direction, as he cuts between Dr. Feld, murmuring thoughtful, Oprah-eseque banalities from his chair, and Kay and Arnold, plopped side by side and sometimes squirming and mugging on the couch. Mr. Frankel has a tougher time once Kay and Arnold, who travel to Maine to work with Dr. Feld, retreat into their separate corners.”

To further heighten your mood for the film and its special features, Entertainment Tonight has published a compliation video clip from the disc’s gag reel on their website. In the bloopers, an excerpt of one and a half minutes, you can catch Tommy Lee Jones proclaiming that “Meryl Streep does not make mistakes – sometimes the world can not just keep up.” and Meryl herself failing to strike the garbage can. More features can be found on the DVD, with additional featurettes on the Blu-Ray disc.

Yesterday, the Kennedy Center Honors reception was held, and last year’s recipient Meryl Streep was on hand to attend the gala. Shown with Dustin Hoffman, one of this year’s recipients, I wonder if she will attend the ceremony to talk about “Kramer vs. Kramer”. The awards ceremony takes place today on Sunday, gala will be broadcast on CBS on December 26, 2012 at 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT. Besides Hoffman, Buddy Guy, David Letterman, Natalia Makarova and Led Zeppelin are honored. Edit: It looks like Meryl didn’t speak at yesterday’s gala, at least there haven’t been any pictures. But I’ve added some additional images from the gala reception to the image library.

Scans from three recent magazines have been added to the image library, with many thanks to Alvaro for sending them in. Two are coming from Italy, A Magazine and TU Magazine both cover the Italian theatrical release of “Hope Springs”. The third scan comes from Entertainment Weekly and pays tribute to publicist Lois Smith, a longtime collaborator and friend to Meryl and many public personalities, who passed away this October. Enjoy the new scans.

Image Library – Magazine Scans – 2012 – A Magazine (Italy, November 01, 2012)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 2012 – TU Magazine (Italy, October 23, 2012)
Image Library – Magazine Scans – 2012 – Entertainment Weekly (USA, October 23, 2012)

The “A Magical Evening” gala, in honor of the late Christopher and Dana Reeve has become an event that Meryl attends annually since its launch. So it’s no surprise she has been on hand at yesterday’s event. Picutres have been added to the image library with more to come.

Some additional notes courtesy of CBS News: Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep was the speaker at the annual benefit gala for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Wednesday night at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. The actress, who was dressed in black slacks and a black tunic, is a supporter of the foundation, which seeks treatments and cures for paralysis and looks for ways to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities. The annual “A Magical Evening Gala” helps raise money for the foundation. The event’s hosts were Matthew Reeve and Alexandra Reeve Givens, children of the organization’s founder. “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed in a horse-riding accident, started the organization with his wife, Dana. Reeve was 52 when he died in October 2004. Dana, then 42, continued his work with the foundation until she was diagnosed with lung cancer eight months later. She died in March of 2006.

The Movie of the Week section has come to an end this week and it has been a great joy to revisit Meryl’s films – my own favorites and those I haven’t seen in a while. Also, it has been very interesting to read your comments and thoughts on the spotlighted films each week. Since it’s a wrap – what has been your favorite Meryl Streep performance so far? Or your favorite film? Or your particular favorite scene? You’re invited to browse the video archive to rewatch clips from all of Meryl’s films, check the filmography pages for background information on her productions or browse the previous Movie of the Week entries to get some inspiration. Please share your thoughts in the comments.

It’s a wrap for the “Movie of the Week”. Within the last year, every film has been spotlighted, and I’ve saved the best for last – Meryl’s performance as Lindy Chamberlain in Fred Schepisi’s “A Cry in the Dark”. New DVD screencaptures have been added alongside new production stills and promotional pictures. Three new clips have been added to the video archive. Production notes and review after the cut. Additionally, you can check the site special on the real Lindy Chamberlain. As always, please share your thoughts on “A Cry in the Dark” in the comments.