According to ScreenDaily, Meryl Streep is set to play iconic political activist Emmeline Pankhurst in Ruby Films drama “Suffragette”, which begins shooting in the UK on Monday (Feb 24). The Oscar-winning actress is in final negotiations to join the project, which will reunite the star with The Iron Lady writer Abi Morgan and financier Pathe. ScreenDaily understands that Streep will have a small but important role in the film, which will see her character give a “tour de force” speech on women’s rights during a political rally. Additional high profile casting has rounded on the project in recent weeks and will be announced in the coming days. Pathe, Film4 and the BFI are among backers on the drama, in which Carey Mulligan stars as Maude, a “foot soldier of the early feminist movement” who becomes radicalized and turns to violence as a route to change. Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane) directs “Suffragette”, producers are Ruby’s Faye Ward and Alison Owen. Executive producers are Pathe’s Cameron McCracken and Film4’s Tessa Ross and Katherine Butler, while Chris Collins is lead exec for the BFI Film Fund.

Yesterday, Meryl Streep and John Wells have attended the Paris premiere for “August: Osage County”. Meryl talked to Associated Press about the film and her recent Oscar nomination. “”I saw the play seven years ago. I remember it hit all of us like a freight train … I was entranced, it made me laugh and it shocked me”. Streep said actors were supposed to relish playing difficult characters but that the “reality is that where it begins, where it emanates from is a very unpleasant place.”

“She has cancer in her mouth. She chooses to smoke constantly in the face of that, she has chemotherapy … she’s a drug addict … it’s all a toxic mix, a nasty place to live.” But she added that it was also liberating “to play a person who says exactly what she thinks, never with a cover, never, never being nice, no thought of diplomacy. So that’s a wonderful free feeling”. Streep said she was thrilled at the Oscar nomination and that people were “still willing to look at my work and to look at it fresh”. “That is the most unbelievable thing, that they are not tired of me yet or of my work so I’m very happy about that. Very gratified,” she said.”

The Internet Movie Database has updated its list of release date for the upcoming “The Homesman”. The western-drama, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones and co-starring Hilary Swank, John Lithgow and Meryl Streep, will be first screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2014. Since the festival’s schedule hasn’t been announced yet, it’s difficult to say if there will be a world-premiere with the cast and crew in attendance, or simply a private screening for distributors. The film will be shown at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals in August and September, before receiving a limited release in the USA on October 3, 2014. With these latest dates announced, all three of Meryl’s upcoming films – The Giver, The Homesman and Into the Woods – will be released theatrically between August and December 2014. Many thanks to Glenn and Frank for the heads-up.

Yesterday, Meryl Streep attended Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote “August: Osage County”. As a change to the recent ones, this is a rather lenghty and informative interview. Besides “August” and living in a condo with her co-stars while filming, they talk about Paul McCartney’s “Queenie Eye” music video, Meryl’s visit to the Beatles concert in the 1960s.

The full interview can be watched in the video archive. HD screencaptures have been added to the gallery. In other news, Meryl has been announced among the presenters for Saturday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, so we’ll see her on stage, winning or not. Also, expect more updates after tonight’s Critics Choice Awards. Edit: Many thanks to Claudia for sending in some fantastic pictures from the taping of the show.

The Wrap reports that Harvey Weinstein promised that an upcoming film starring Meryl Streep that will make the National Rifle Association “wish they weren’t alive” during an interview with Howard Stern earlier this week, and now it has a title. A Weinstein Co. spokeswoman told TheWrap on Thursday that the film will be called “The Senator’s Wife.” “I don’t think we need guns in this country,” Weinstein told Stern on Wednesday. “I think the NRA is a disaster area.” “I shouldn’t say this, but I’ll tell it to you, Howard,” Weinstein added. “I’m going to make a movie with Meryl Streep, and we’re going to take this head-on. And they’re going to wish they weren’t alive after I’m done with them.” Weinstein described the film as a “big movie like a ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,’” which he hopes will make audiences think: “Gun stocks — I don’t want to be involved in that stuff. It’s going to be like crash and burn.” Thanks to everybody for the heads-up.

Congratulations to Meryl Streep for receiving her 18th Oscar nomination as Best Actress for “August: Osage County”. This is a great surprise since a nomination didn’t seem to be certain this year. Most “experts” saw four spots of the Best Actress category a lock and the fifth place up for grab between Meryl and Amy Adams. In the end, both Streep and Adams have received a nomination, alongside Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity) and Judi Dench (Philomena). Emma Thompson, who has tipped a favorite, has missed out a nomination. Julia Roberts has also received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for “August: Osage County”. The 86th Academy Awards will be handed out on March 2, 2014. Entertainment Tonight has released Meryl’s reaction to her 18th Oscar nomination:

I am so happy for our film that Julia and I have been nominated. We are both so proud of August: Osage County. This honor from the Academy, for which we are truly grateful, will help bring attention to our film from audiences across the country, which is thrilling.

Great news from the talkshows circuit. Tonight, Meryl will be a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live (11:35/10:35c on ABC) to talk about “August: Osage County” and on Monday, she’ll be attending the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Tomorrow will be a busy day as well – the Academy Award nominations are announced and the Critics Choice Movie Awards take place. So, check back for more updates tomorrow.

First of all, a couple of additional pictures and screencaptures from the Golden Globes have been added. Then today, Meryl and the cast of “August: Osage County” has attended a Q&A at the SAG Foundation. The cast has received a SAG nomination as Outsanding Ensemble. Pictures from the Q&A have been added to the gallery. The video will be added as soon as it becomes available.

Videos from yesterday’s Q&A with Meryl and Margo Martindale at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, as well as a full video of the “August: Osage County” press conference in New York back in December, have been added to the video archive. Enjoy the new clips.

Today, Meryl Streep and Margo Martindale have attended a screening and Q&A for “August: Osage County” at the DGA Theater. Pictures have been added to the gallery.