What a cast! Toni Collette (“Muriel’s Wedding”, “The Sixth Sense”), Ed Harris (“Apollo 13”, “Pollock”) and Claire Danes (“Romeo and Juliet”) have joined Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore to play in the upcoming ‘The Hours’.

Meryl Streep will be returning to the stage. She has been announced to star in a new production of Chekov’s The Seagull this Summer. The play will be directed by Mike Nichols and will co-star Kevin Kline.

Looks like Gwyneth Paltrow has dropped out of “The Hours”. It’s been reported that this year’s Oscar nominee Julianne Moore (“The End of the Affair”, “Boogie Nights”) has replaced the actress in the upcoming ensemble drama, based on Michael Cunningham’s bestselling novel.

How’s this for a powerhouse combo? Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, and Meryl Streep May star together in a new film, but without ever sharing a scene. The plot of The Hours revolves around three female characters in different story lines and different time periods in the 20th century, related only by a parallel in their personal lives: Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway. The first woman is Woolf herself, who is working on the novel in 1923 as she recovers from depression. Second is an unhappily married ’40s era Los Angeles housewife who reads Woolf’s novel in 1949 as she awaits the birth of her first child; third is a contemporary woman in New York planning what will be a farewell party for her AIDS-stricken former lover, who nicknamed her Mrs. Dalloway.

Hilary Swank was awarded with the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in “Boys Don’t Cry”. Meryl, who attended the ceremony with her husband and her daughter Grace, was nominated in the same category for “Music of the Heart”.

Meryl has received yet another Oscar nomination in the Best Actress category for her performance in “Music of the Heart”. She’s nominated alongside Annette Bening (American Beauty), Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds), Julianne Moore (The End of the Affair) and Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry). The Oscars will be handed out this March.

The Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama went to Hilary Swank for her performance in “Boy’s Don’t Cry”. Meryl was nominated in the same category for “Music of the Heart”. Cross your fingers when the Oscar nominations are announced on February 15, 2000.

Meryl was nominated for the Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) Golden Globe Award for her performance in “Music of the Heart”, alongside Annette Bening (American Beauty), Julianne Moore (The End of the Affair), Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry) and Sigourney Weaver (A Map of the World). The Golden Globes will be handed out next January.

Meryl Streep is sheduled to sing “Amazing Grace” Friday during a 25th anniversary commemoration of the death of Karen Silkwood. Ms. Streep played the title role in the 1983 movie, “Silkwood” and sang “Amazing Grace” in the film. Proceeds from the tribute – which also features appearances by folk singer Toshi Reagon, the film’s director Mike Nichols and Ms. Silkwood’s father Bill – benefit the Just Health Care Campaign, a union-sponsored health-care reform program.

Meryl was seen at the 2001 Summer Benefit. The festival honored Gail Merrifield Papp, the wife of the Joseph Papp, who is the founder of The Public Theater/ New York Shakespeare Festival.