While still unofficial, according to the Wrap, Mike Nichols is in talks to direct Mandate Pictures’ “Great Hope Springs,” an individual familiar with the project told TheWrap. Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges are currently close to finalizing deals to star in the dramedy. CAA, which represents Nichols, Streep and Bridges, would not confirm the negotiations. This would be the fifth project for Nichols and Streep after “Silkwood” (1983), “Heartburn” (1986), “Postcards from the Edge” (1990) and “Angels in America” (2003).

According to Coming Soon, Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges are in talks to star in Escape Artists’ “Great Hope Springs”. Philip Seymour Hoffman is also circling the project but may not be able to join in due to schedule conflicts. The film, written by Vanessa Taylor Writer, is about a couple who have been married for thirty years and attend an intense counseling weekend to decide the fate of their marriage. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Guymon Casady and Steve Tisch are producing the dramedy.

“In talks” basically means that the two are considered, or wanted for this projects, so I wouldn’t count it as an official project for now. Be sure I keep you posted on further information.

According to the Italian news association ANSA, Meryl Streep and Andy Garcia will be awarded with the Rudolfo Valentino Award in Poltu Quatu, Sardegna, Italy, July 7. The Rodolfo Valentino award is given each year by a jury of critics to movie personalities who have success all over the world, past winners include Pedro Almodovar, Robert Altman, Bernardo Berolucci, Francis Ford Coppola, Bette Davis, Jeremy Irons, Sophia Loren and Roman Polanski, among others. Thanks to Ilaria for the heads-up!

The following article from the Connecticut Theater Reviews not only features some great remarks by Meryl on her early stage work but also four amazing pictures from her collaboration with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in 1975. The complete article can be read here and below.

I just got off the phone, talking to Meryl Streep about the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, and its second Tony Award — this one for outstanding regional theater, which was presented during last night’s Tony ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall. Streep spent a summer at the O’Neill 35 years ago when she was a young actress starting out, fresh out of her three years at Yale School of Drama. While at the O’Neill in 1975 she appeared among projects in a John Guare play being developed there called “Marco Polo Sings a Solo” and Jeff Wanshel’s “Isadora Duncan Sleeps with the Russian Navy.” Also in the staged reading were actors Joel Brooks, Jay Garner and Kevin O’Connor.

As reported earlier, Meryl has attended the AFI Lifetime Achievment Award to director Mike Nichols, yesterday. Pictures have been added to the Image Library with more information below. It was a reunion with lots of her Nichols-directed co-stars – Cher of “Silkwood”, Jack Nicholson of “Heartburn” and Shirley MacLaine of “Postcards from the Edge”. The tribute to Nichols airs June 26 on TV Land.

I remember on ‘Silkwood’ once, you said to me, ‘You know, directing is like making love.’ And I said, ‘Eww, I don’t even know him that well. Why is he telling me this?’ ‘Because,’ you went on, ‘you never know if you’re doing it right or as well as the other guy.’ I just found that insecurity so completely disarming, and, well, you know, I started to fall in love with you over and over and over again.

Introduced by Streep at the end of the evening, Nichols gushed thanks for his costume designers, cinematographers, script supervisors, makeup artists, composers and other associates. “If I thanked everyone who contributed importantly over the years, we would be here until Miley Cyrus’ AFI award,” Nichols said. “All of you made me feel I got away with it. I love the process of making a movie, and doing it with all of you was – despite the fear, the pressure, the budget – happiness.”

Director Mike Nichols will be receiving the 2010 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award tomorrow (which Meryl will be attending), and in today’s Los Angeles Times, he has talked about a few of the actors he has worked with, Meryl included. Nichols directed her to best actress Oscar nominations for 1983’s “Silkwood” and 1990’s “Postcards From the Edge,” to an Emmy in 2003’s “Angels in America,” and in 1985’s “Heartburn”):

Meryl can be anyone. Nobody understands what she does and how she does it. It’s great to be near her and to be part of it; it’s great to see her happen. The thing I always say is that she’s never lost an iota of the joy of doing it.

The creators of the People’s Choice Awards’ official website have launched an impressive video archive with all previous winners – that means quite a lot never-before seen archive footage of Meryl since won the award in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990! Clips from all appearances have been uploaded to the video archive (the 1986 and 1990 clips have been re-added with better quality). Captures from all ceremonies have been added to the Image Library as well, so enjoy this fantastic journey through the years!

On May 27, Meryl Streep has accepted an honorary degree at Harvard Universities commencement in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pictures can be found in the Image Library, a video will follow later.

Here are some fantastic video additions that help to complete the archives big time :-) First is a segment from the 1982 Academy Awards, when Meryl received her first Best Actress nomination for “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”. With this being added, all her Oscar appearances are now complete :-) Then, with many thanks to DVDGuy there are two clips of Meryl attending the 1986 People’s Choice Awards, winning as Best Actress and Best Allround Entertainer. And finally, with many thanks to Daniel, two clips of Meryl presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Paul McCartney at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Thanks both for these teriffic finds! Screencaps from these appearances have been added to the Image Library as well. Edit: The People’s Choice Awards videos have been re-uploaded, see this update for more information.

Meryl has attended yesterday’s Vassar College commencement. Pictures can be found in the Image Library with additional information below the previews.

Featured as commencement speaker was 1985 graduate Lisa Kudrow, who is also a college trustee. Kudrow told the graduates how she went from being a biology major to an actress. After graduating and doing research in her father’s headache clinic, she said, she found herself looking critically at how other actors and comedians approached their craft, and decided at 22 it was time to try her hand at acting. “I was also nervous about this career choice because I didn’t really care for actors,” Kudrow said. No one seemed to laugh more at that comment than Vassar alumna Meryl Streep, who was sitting with the other trustees.