Lots of film news these days. Although Meryl’s appearance as Tolstoy’s wife in “The Last Station” is not officially confirmed yet, Variety has reported on February 8 that “The Last Station” has completed its financing with a $1 million award this week from German funding org FFA. The pic is now set to shoot in Germany sometime this year, pending confirmation of dates by Hopkins and Streep. The pic is based on Jay Parini’s book about the aging Tolstoy’s dilemma whether to bequeath his wealth to his beloved family, or to donate it to projects for the public good. The full article can be read here.

According to the New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, Meryl Streep has been cast as the stern Sister Aloysius in the upcoming big screen adaptation of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Doubt”. With a screenplay and direction by Shanley (who won an Oscar for his Moonstruck screenplay), the film will be produced by Scott Rudin for Miramax. Shooting will likely begin in fall of 2007. Streep will play the role originated by Cherry Jones, who currently stars in Doubt’s national tour. Full article can be read here. Many thanks to Frank and Katie for the heads-up.

At least this is a first official release date by the films’ distributor United Artists according to article: United Artists and MGM have announced that Robert Redford’s “Lions for Lambs” will be released in North America on Friday, November 9, 2007, with the remainder of the world to roll out in subsequent months. Principal photography on the first production from the new UA, began on January 29th with Robert Redford directing and starring alongside Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Derek Luke, Michael Pena, Andrew Garfield and Peter Berg. Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the original screenplay. Also, according to the IMDb, Meryl’s character will be named Ursula Leachman.

Meryl Streep is participating in the “Lunch With A Leader” online celebrity auction. Running from February 9-19, the public can bid on an hour lunch with Meryl and dozens of other celebrities from entertainment, sports, business, politics, and journalism. Visit www.lunchwithaleader.com for more info. This is a once in a lifetime chance to have a one on one lunch with Meryl, herself! Many thanks to Peter from Communities in School for letting me know.

Thanks to Our Back for letting me know that Meryl Streep’s Carolina Herrera Golden Globe gown is currently up for auction at www.clothesoffourback.org along with other celebrity items from the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. All proceeds benefit children’s charities.

Meryl Streep can add a few other awards to her shelf as she was awarded Actress of the Year by the London Film Critics – her award was picked up on her behalf by “Angels in America” co-star Emma Thompson – and as Best Actress by the North Texas Film Association, both for “The Devil Wears Prada”. The BAFTA Awards, for which Meryl is nominated as well, will be handed out this Sunday. Many thanks to Frank for the heads-up.

Congratulations to Meryl for receiving her 14th Oscar nomination as Best Actress for “The Devil Wears Prada”. Nominated in the same category are Penelope Cruz (Volver), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Kate Winslet (Little Children). This year’s Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, 25 February 2007. A list with all nominees can be found here.

Meryl Streep has been awarded with the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for “The Devil Wears Prada”. This has been her career’s 21th nomination for the Golden Globe and her 6th win. She has been honored previously for “Kramer vs. Kramer”, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”, “Sophie’s Choice”, “Adaptation” and “Angels in America”.

(Entering the stage and talking to Miss Golden Globe, Jack Nicholson’s daughter) Thank you! (Applause) Thank you. Thank you very much. I told Lorraine she came to a birthday party at my house in Beverly Hills with snakes… we had snakes! (Laughter) But then we moved back east. (Laughter) Oh my God, thank you everybody, thank you so much, I’m really thrilled. I think I worked with everybody in the room. (Laugther) Yes I have… (Meryl pulls out an acceptance speech) I’m gonna forget everything, I know… (refering to the audience) Oh shut up it’s not that long. (Laughter). First of all, congratulations to the nominees in all the categories for Best Actress, it’s like a million categories for Best Actress – but Annette and Toni and Beyonce and Renée, Penelope, Judi, Maggie and Helen and Kate, I just want you to know, all of you, that this is been such a fun year to watch movies because of you gals. (Applause) And it makes you wanna cry with graditude – until next year! (Laughter) I just wanna thank David Frankel and Aline Brosh McKenna for this sparkling script, its really sharp, smart direction made it just a pleasure. And thanks to Wendy Finerman and Carla Hackman and Elizabeth Gabler and Karen Rosenfelt for sheparding us through. Thank you for Tommy Rothman who signs the cheques and Rupert who signs his cheques. (Laughter). And thank you to Pat Field and Molly and Nina and the people in warderobe because that was like special effects for us! And… oh gosh, everybody. Delicious Emily Blunt, (throws her a kiss), darling! Darling Annie Hathaway, dreadful Stanley Tucci (Laughter). For the difficult job they had making me seem monstrous, anyway (Laughter). I just, I wanna thank everbody, especially everybody at FOX that let us donate all those clothes to “Equality Now” and Breast Cancer Research and Dress for Success (Applause), that was really classy! Totally great! And finally I just wanna say, the reason you could see “The Devil Wears Prada” is because it was playing on every theatre screen across America – and that was because they were playing it. And, if you can’t see “Little Children” or “Pan’s Labyrinth” or “The Queen” or… eh, all these great movies that I’ve just seen, “Volver”, “Notes on a Scandal”, “Sherrybaby” then you have to go down to your theater manager and ask him “why” (Applause). ‘Cause its amazing how much you can get if you quietly, clearly and authoritatively demand it! (Laughter) That’s all.

Congratulations to Meryl for receiving a Best Actress nomination by the British Academy Award (BAFTA) for “The Devil Wears Prada”. Nominated in the same category are Penelope Cruz (Volver), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Kate Winslet (Little Children). “The Devil Wears Prada” has received 3 more nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Emily Blunt) and Best Costume Design. This year’s Orange British Academy Film Awards will be held on Sunday 11 February 2007 at the Royal Opera House in London. A list with all nominees can be found here.

According to Variety, Meryl Streep is set to star in the upcoming movie version of Phyllida Lloyd’s musical “Mamma Mia”. Lloyd, who directed the original in London as well as its Broadway incarnation, will make her feature directing debut on the pic, which will be shot in London and Greece. Streep will play the rebellious single mother of a bride-to-be who never met her father. The daughter invites three likely paternal candidates to her wedding, and the ensuing conflict triggers the performance of 22 Abba hits. An accomplished singer, Streep had been wooed for musical adaptations including “Evita,” but “Mamma Mia” is her first full-blown musical. She sang in films including “Postcards From the Edge” and last year’s “A Prairie Home Companion.” Producer Judy Craymer is quoted by Variety that Meryl “was always at the top of our wish list, and she encapsulates the spirit and energy and has the powerhouse qualities that character requires”.