NPR has an interesting radio interview with Meryl Streep and Phyllida Lloyd over at their website. The Iron Lady sets itself apart from many other biopics in that it tells the story of a woman who is still alive and still a divisive figure. Phyllida Lloyd, the film’s director, tells NPR’s Melissa Block that she was moved to tell Thatcher’s story because of how larger-than-life the former prime minister is. “It’s a sort of mythic story of somebody who came from [a] very humble background to somebody who became a global superstar and then was brought down, as she saw it, by the treachery of her colleagues,” Lloyd says. “It’s a sort of Shakespearean tale.” You can listen to the full interview here.

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”.

Monday’s Movie of the Week is “Heartburn”, Mike Nichols’ 1986 dramedy based on Nora Ephron’s best-selling book. Lots of new information have been added to the detail page, after the jump you can read production notes and a review on the film. Also, HD screencaptures from the film have been added to the image library. Enjoy and share your comments and thoughts on “Heartburn”.

In her 1983 best-selling novel “Heartburn”, Nora Ephron wrote semi-autobiographically about her marriage to journalist Carl Bernstein, who helped cover the Watergate scandal with Bob Woodward. The novel typifies an era in which movies, books and the other media are transforming private lives into public properties at an astounding rate. Their separation was met with large public interest. Mike Nichols became interested in “Heartburn” when he was directing Meryl Streep in “Silkwood” – a film co-written by Ephron. Both Nichols and Streep had planned to revive “Private Lives” on Broadway in the early 1980’s, but plans foiled after Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor announced their own production of the play. For Meryl, it was also the first time to do a comedy movie – although “Heartburn” can hardly be labeled a comedy, at least not in the traditional sense. According to reports, Kevin Kline was the first choice to portray the Bernstein character, however Kline wasn’t available due to theatre commitments. Mandy Patinkin was then cast as the male lead. Filming started in July 1985, just weeks after Meryl returned from filming “Out Of Africa”.

Congratulations to Meryl Streep for receiving a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress in a Drama for “The Iron Lady”. She shares the category with Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Tilda Swinton (We need to talk about Kevin). The Golden Globes will be be broadcast live on NBC coast-to-coast January 15, 2012 with returning host Ricky Gervais. Morgan Freeman will receive the Cecille DeMille Award.

This is Meryl’s astonishing 26th nomination for a Golden Globe – she holds the record for most nominations and wins – receiving the trophy seven times for “Kramer vs. Kramer”, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”, “Sophie’s Choice“, “Adaptation“, “Angels in America“, “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Julie & Julia”

I’m thrilled to be included in this beautiful group of actors and actresses. I’m very proud of our movie and look forward to seeing everyone at the party in January. (Meryl Streep, The Hollywood Reporter)

As previously reported, Meryl and Phyllida Lloyd participated in a conversation panel on “The Iron Lady”, yesterday at the Apple Store in SoHo, New York. Pictures can be found in the image library with more information to come.

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.

Congratulations to Meryl for receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading role for “The Iron Lady”. She shares the category with Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Tilda Swinton (We Need to talk about Kevin) and Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn).

USA Today has a quote of Meryl on her nomination: “I love the SAG, because it’s actors. You can say, ‘I’m making this movie for my grandmother.’ But really, you love, you love it most of all when people who understand what it is and what it takes and what you need to do get there – that they like it. That’s the whole deal”. The SAG Awards will be handed out in a live ceremony on January 29, 2012. Thanks also to Frank for the heads-up that Meryl received nominations for the Phoenix Film Critics and the Woman Film Critics Circle and was Runners Up at the Toronto Film Critics in the Best Actress category.

Meryl has attended today’s premiere of “The Iron Lady” in New York and first pictures from the event can be found in the image library. Edit: More pictures have been added. Edit 2: Over 40 additional pictures have been added as well.