When people say Meryl Streep is a great actress, they mean grand actress — one who calculates her moves, her makeup and her accent, and then turns up the thespic volume until her character risks becoming caricature. The tactic works when she plays Dragon Lady roles like the fashion doyenne in The Devil Wears Prada, less so in the more naturalistic settings of Mamma Mia! and Doubt. But given a famous woman to play, Streep eerily locates the voice, face and soul: of Julia Child in Julie & Julia and, with startling acuity, of Margaret Thatcher in this biopic. Smartly written by Abi Morgan (who co-wrote Shame) and directed by Mamma Mia!’s Phyllida Lloyd, the film spans nearly the complete life of Britain’s first female Prime Minister, from her youth as a greengrocer’s daughter through Oxford and her early years in the Conservative Party (when she is played by Alexandra Roach). Streep takes over in Maggie’s middle age and escorts the PM into a restless retirement, both haunted and warmed by the specter of her late husband Dennis (a marvelous Jim Broadbent). Her performance is a miracle of inhabiting, not editorializing; it turns the boss of 10 Downing Street into a woman meriting our sympathy and sadness. This time, grand is great. Full list and more articles on the Time website.

Many of the production stills of “The Iron Lady” have been replaced with better-quality versions and a couple of new stills and on-set pictures have been added as well.

A second theatrical trailer for “The Iron Lady” has been released – technically the first US trailer since the previous one was for the United Kingdom. Lots of new scenes in here, have a look.

Scans from the November 27 issue of the British Live Magazine have been added to the image library. Many many thanks to Alvaro for guiding the magazine to me. Enjoy! Additionally, you can find a transcript of the article in the magazines archive.

Today’s Movie of the Week is a guilty pleasure – Death Becomes Her. In this 1992 dark comedy by Robert Zemeckis, Meryl and Goldie Hawn engage in a fight for life and death, literally. The video archive has been updated with better quality trailers, featurette and film scenes. A couple of on-set pictures have been added to the gallery – as well as high definition screencaptures from the film. Below, you will also find a review I wrote on the film.

I may be biased when it comes to “Death Becomes Her”, since it’s the first film I’ve seen with Meryl, and ultimately the one that made me interested in her acting career. For a body of work full of serious drama, “Death Becomes Her” might be a misleading starting point, however. What’s interesting about the film and Meryl’s performance is how she pokes fun at her own image at that time. In the early nineties, Meryl’s career has been weakened by a string of unsuccessful comedies, “She-Devil” and “Defending your Life”, after a decade of career-defining serious roles. So it’s surprising to see her play a failing actress who does everything in her power – and wallet – to stay young and happening. It’s also the second time in only a few years that Meryl has played an actress. But while she battled drug addiction in “Postcards from the Edge”, here she battles herself, and her enemy of years – childhood friend Helen Sharp. Much of the magic of “Death Becomes Her” comes from the great chemistry between Meryl and Goldie Hawn – they chose this project to work together after declining “Thelma and Louise” – and Bruce Willis, who also makes fun of his own image as an action star with his performance as boozed and whiny Ernest – the man both women are fighting for.

On December 14, director Phyllida Lloyd and Meryl Streep will participate in a panel discussion on “The Iron Lady” at the Apple Store in Soho, New York City. Here’s the press release: Join Oscar Award‒winning actress Meryl Streep and filmmaker Phyllida Lloyd (“Mama Mia”) as they discuss their new film, “The Iron Lady,” a surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher (Streep), the first and only female prime minister of the United Kingdom. One of the 20th century’s most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. When: Wed, Dec 14 at 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Where: Apple Store, SoHo 103 Prince St. Many thanks to Paul for the heads-up. This will be Meryl’s second Apple store panel after discussing “Fantastic Mr. Fox” at the store in 2009.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Showtime announced Monday that it will air a second season of Lisa Kudrow comedy Web Therapy, set to air in 2012. Transitioning from the web to the tube in summer of 2011, Web Therapy follows psychotherapist Fiona Wallice as she treats a variety of patients via webcam. “We are thrilled that Showtime will air more of the half-hour format of Web Therapy, we really love this version of the show,” Kudrow said in a statement. “Of course, we are over the moon that Meryl Streep will be in this coming season. She was effortlessly hilarious, and it’s a great story. We have Lily Tomlin back who always fantastically funny. Conan O’Brien is beyond, fantastic, he’s a perfect improviser. We’re honestly giddy over the people we have for this season.”

The galleries for all recent Kennedy Center events have been uploaded with additional pictures.

Nora Ephron, whom Streep portrayed in the film “Heartburn,” praised the actress’ portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the upcoming film “The Iron Lady” and warned Secretary Clinton that she would be next. “It’s inevitable,” Ephron said. “Someday you will see her in a movie about your life and discover the truth that she is better at being you than you are.” Amid all the accolades and praise, Streep, 62, who has received 16 Academy Award nominations, winning twice, quipped that events made her “feel a little like Tom Sawyer going to his own funeral.”

Tracey Ullman, first up to honor Streep, said there’s something special about the actress. “Looking around, I see Caroline Kennedy, first lady Michelle Obama, the president … an illustrious group to be sure, but with no disrespect to you guys, we have Meryl-bloody-Streep in the room!” And the laughs continued: After the audience watched a video with highlights from Streep’s film career, 2009 honoree De Niro said, “My first thought was, I was amazing in Deer Hunter.” Then he got serious and said, “Meryl, you are the very best. … I love you.” It was a reunion of The Devil Wears Prada cast – which starred Streep as a fashion editor – when Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt took to the stage. “In every scene, she’s actually doing at least two jobs,” said Blunt. “First, her own character, who is always so complete, so natural, you forget that somewhere in there is Meryl Streep. Then the second is stabilizing the other actor who is having a nervous breakdown because they’re in a scene with Meryl Streep.” Tucci, who also starred as Streep’s character’s husband when she took on the role of Julia Child in Julie & Julia, shared a special requirement of his: “The only thing I want in every scene I’m in is … Meryl Streep.” Below is a compilation from last night’s event with footage from the reception as well as the red carpet and ceremony.

The White House was full of celebrities Sunday evening when U.S. President Barack Obama played host to this year’s five Kennedy Center honorees. The festivities in Washington began with a White House reception, where Obama made his remarks flanked by the honorees. The actual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony takes place afterwards. Pictures can be found in the image library.

According to the president’s speech, “The sheer brilliance and breadth of Meryl Streep’s performances count as one of the most exhilarating cultural spectacles of our time.” Others attending Sunday’s events included actors Stanley Tucci, Robert DeNiro, Sarah Jessica Parker and Emily Blunt, and musician Smokey Robinson. A two-hour recap of the gala will air the night of December 27 on CBS.